Agricultural Advisory (Ktigewkaan Aankewiindimaadwin)

Tom Stevens

Owner, Tom’s Sugar Shackphone: (705) 845-8692Email: [email protected]

Tom Stevens is from Nipissing First Nation and is 27 years old. He has been making maple syrup for over 20 years and has been operating his own maple syrup business “Tom’s Sugarshack” for 12 years.  He started producing maple syrup with sap buckets then eventually it grew into a vacuum tubing system.  Tom uses a reverse osmosis system to make it more efficient and environmentally friendly. He is currently expanding the tubing system for the 2020 production year.

He is also a gardener and produces a lot of his own vegetables for home consumption and for giving away to family and friends. Tom brings his valuable experience and knowledge as a maple syrup producer to the Committee.

Marcus Hardy - Chief

Red Rock Indian Bandphone: (807) 887-2510Email: [email protected]Email: [email protected]

Marcus Hardy was elected Chief of the Red Rock Indian Band on September 7, 2019. At the age of 36 he is the youngest elected Chief in Red Rock Indian Band history. As Chief, his priorities are the sustainability of his First Nation, youth and elders and the preservation and restoration of the Anishinabek culture. A focus on improving existing community infrastructure has the Red Rock Indian Band exploring and implementing smarter energy options to suit the community’s growing needs. Prior to being elected, Chief Hardy had a 16 year career in the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring in 2016. Marcus lives on Lake Helen Reserve and is an active volunteer. He is married and a proud father of 7 children.

Mike Esquega - Elder Representative

Binjitiwabik Zaaging (Rocky Bay)phone: (807) 632-1132Email: [email protected]

Mike Esquega resides on the Rocky Bay Reserve also known as Binjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek. Mike was born a mile down from the reserve in Giiyabshi Niiyaashing. He comes from a family with15 siblings and has five children, all with their own families. His political career began in 1983, first as a Councillor for 12 years, then he was Chief for 14 years. He was Robinson Superior Regional Chief for 10 years. Currently he is the Northern Superior Regional Elder and has acted in that capacity since 2003.

Ron St. Louis

Capital Beesphone: (613) 852-5063Email: [email protected]

Ron St. Louis is a member of Dokis First Nation and is the owner of Capital Bees in Ottawa where he currently resides. He has been keeping bees since 2011 and teaching a hands-on natural beekeeping program in Ottawa at the Just Food Farm since 2015. He is a registered beekeeper and has a permit for queen and nucleus colony sales through OMAFRA. He breeds bees to be resistant to pests and diseases and has been a member of the Ontario Resistant Honey Bee Selection program (ORHBS) since 2017.

Ron has been interested in sustainable agriculture and food security for many years and has a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) and is also working on a permaculture food forest on his allocated land at the Just Food Farm in Ottawa. He believes food sovereignty is the key to self determination and hopes that by joining the Advisory Committee he will be brought closer to his people and traditional lands.

Kyle Williams - Youth Representative

Greenhouse technician at Maajiigin Gumig Native Plant Nursery, Aamjiwmaang First Nationphone: (226) 886-5777Email: [email protected]

Kyle Williams works as a Greenhouse Technician at a native plant nursery operated by Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Maajiigin Gumig. He has a strong interest in promoting ecological functions in developed areas, and soil health and in promoting agriculture. He attend symposiums and meetings focused on soil health and phosphorus management. He helps promote community gardening and bee keeping, maple syrup tapping, and restoration of wetlands and decommissioned agricultural areas. He has a strong interest in the use of native plants.

Jennifer Whiteye - Executive Director

Southern First Nations Secretariatphone: 1-800-668-2609Email: [email protected]

Jennifer Whiteye is an active member of the Delaware Nation – Moravian of the Thames community who has spent most of her career advancing local First Nations. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies with distinction and specialization in finance and administration from the University of Western Ontario. She has worked at the Southern First Nations Secretariat, a Tribal Council located in southwestern Ontario, for 14 years. As Executive Director since 2014, she implements the strategic direction as defined by the London District Chiefs Council (LDCC) and Board of Directors while ensuring the smooth overall operation of SFNS. This includes project management and oversight related to all programs.

Southern First Nations Secretariat has recently developed a business directory and the tribal council hopes to enhance opportunities for agricultural development for their member communities.