Meet the Teams

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SOMBO Energy

Bohdana Innes

Métis Nation of Alberta

Description

Sombo Energy is an Indigenous-owned, not-for-profit renewable energy development organization, with a vision of accelerating the energy transition and catalyzing reconciliation. The project aims to develop a 100MW Solar and BESS facility in Alberta. The funds generated from the sale of electricity will help SOMBO serve its mission to educate youth, reclaim land, and support other Indigenous-owned clean energy projects.

Austin is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and holds his heritage in high regard. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, which often includes rock climbing, backcountry hiking, multi-day canoe trips, and snowboarding. Austin is a registered E.I.T. with APEGA after completing his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta as well as his M.Eng in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Carleton University. Through these programs, Austin has developed a strong understanding of a broad range of topics related to sustainability, climate change, and clean energy. Austin has gained experience from working in government, academia, consulting, industry, and with NGOs. He serves on the board of directors at Foundation for Environmental Stewardship, a national charity focused on sustainability education and supporting grassroots organizations. Currently, he works with SunGrid as a Business Development Associate where he supports the development of grid-scale energy storage projects.

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Healing Our Home: mînawâcihiwewi-ne-wîkiwnan

Bohdana Innes

Moose Cree First Nation, ON

Description

With the Healing Our Home project, Bohdana aims to design a prototype home and housing development plan in Moose Cree First Nation, reflecting community needs, values, and traditional knowledge.

The project is informed by community engagement with the Moose Cree First Nation and honours the way of living in the Mushkegowuk Territory.  In partnership with the Child & Family Services department, the project will address a critical need for housing in the community and provide a home for children in foster care.

The purpose of the project is to empower Moose Cree First Nation and other Indigenous communities to build homes that reflect their community and their land by integrating design knowledge with Indigenous knowledge.

Bohdana Innes is Cree from Moose Cree First Nation of Moose Factory. Born in Moose Factory and raised in Wawa Ontario, Bohdana is proud of her mixed heritage background of Cree, Ukrainian, and Scottish. She currently lives in Sudbury, on Anishinabek Territory, as she completes her Master’s degree in architecture at the McEwen School of Architecture. Bohdana holds a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Indigenous Studies. She is currently in her final year of her Master’s program at the McEwen School of Architecture. Along with studying at McEwen, she is pursuing her Passive House Design certification. Bohdana’s Indigenous heritage has been a driving force in her interest in researching Indigenous cultures across Canada, which led her to pursue her passion in Indigenous architectural design. She has worked continuously throughout her professional career to gain knowledge in the Indigenous process and design. Bohdana is also interested in sustainable design strategies and modern construction methods, which will allow her to bring different expertise to future projects with First Nation communities.

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Ziigwan Gitigaan

Shane Monague

Beausoleil First Nation, ON

Description

Shane’s ImaGENation project aims to create a cultural space that will reconnect community members with traditions, language, and promote community heritage to visitors of Beausoleil First Nation. The project aims to empower local indigenous community capacity in addressing food insecurity within Beausoleil First Nation with the construction of year-round greenhouses to grow and distribute traditional medicines and food staples to community members. The project will provide community members and local knowledge keepers a dedicated space to hold ceremonies and gatherings which are integral to the healthy development of the community. Working with Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous community members and a passion for community, Shane hopes to help alleviate household expenses for families while promoting community self-sufficiency and Anishinaabe cultural wisdom. The Gitigaan (“Garden” in Anishinaabemowin) will be a space for and by community.

Shane is a proud Anishinaabenini from Beausoleil First Nation. He has spent the last decade utilizing personal experiences and skills working in various capacities within the broader indigenous community. Shane advocates for and works to advance the health and well-being of our environment and indigenous youth with an Indigenous Assets-Based Community Development (IABCD) approach. He has completed a 1-year internship within the energy sector as part of the Generation Power program through ICE. Currently he is working within his community both professionally and as a volunteer with a focus in decolonized community building, language revitalization, cultural integration, and sustainable development.

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Soaring Prairies

Jana Sasakamoose

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, SK

Description

Soaring Prairies aims to create an energy-efficient year-round greenhouse to promote food and energy sovereignty in the community and at the school within Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation. The vision for the project is to reclaim ancestral knowledge by offering traditional teachings through gardening, hide tanning, medicines, Elders’ circles, and Ceremonies. Soaring Prairies will incorporate hydroponics and additional clean energy and energy efficiency options will be looked at to help grow healthy foods and medicines. The Soaring Prairies project will offer a sustainability curriculum, work experience, and quality nutrition to Indigenous students of all grades. Jana will be working alongside an elder who has space and has been offering teachings at the school, with plans to provide lunch for students such as traditional soups and other foods for students to take home.

Jana is a proud mother of 6 and stepmom to 2, hailing from the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation. She is currently completing her Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Mathematics and Statistics, Geographics, and Social Justice. Jana is one of the first First Nation women accepted into the Math and Stats Graduate program at the University of Regina, and has been breaking down barriers as an Indigenous mother through her entire education journey, raising her children without ever stopping her work and learning. Jana is open about her story of overcoming adversity and experiencing generational trauma and colonialism that impact her life, her family, and her loved ones. She has vowed to use her education and ambition to ensure her children never face the same hardships and despite all that she has gone through, Jana always finds a way to give back. Whether it is volunteering or paying it forward to others by donating each time she receives a scholarship, Jana plans to uplift her community and break the cycles of trauma to create a better future for all Indigenous people.

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The Bee & Berry Café

Marley Bob

Ochapowace Cree Nation, Treaty 4 Territory, SK

Description

The Bee & Berry Café project is a solar powered food truck focused on providing organic, and/or local, and/or Indigenous products to people throughout the powwow trail in Saskatchewan. The business will be sustainable and healthy with the goals to support local organic and Indigenous businesses in the area. The menu will include items such as smoothies, porridge, toast with honey and almond butter, soups, muffins, cupcakes, and medicine drinks such as tea with honey. Bee & Berry will explore clean energy options to power the operations of the business to demonstrate and inspire sustainable practices within community.

Marley Bob (She/Her) is a Nehiyaw woman belonging to Ochapowace Cree Nation, Treaty 4 Territory. She currently resides in Tkaronto (Toronto, ON) Treaty 13 Territory. Marley holds a diploma in General Carpentry from The Skilled Trades College of Canada and is currently studying Architectural Technology at George Brown College. Previously, she received a diploma in General Arts & Science and a certificate in Pre-Health from Mohawk College in Hamilton, ON. A career and community driven person, Marley’s goal is to obtain a Master of Architecture where she can utilize her education and knowledge to help First Nations by creating healthier communities, environments, and buildings that are safe, sustainable, self-sufficient, and can self-identify with culturally. Marley has worked diligently throughout her professional and academic career to gain knowledge of contemporary and traditional(vernacular) construction methods, natural building materials, and community engagement practices. Marley has participated in several Ontario architectural projects located in Toronto, Ottawa, Sault. Ste. Marie, and Kingston.