Shelley Mandakwe Charles is Ojibway Anishinaabe from Georgina Island First Nation on Lake Simcoe and is a member of the fish clan: Muskinozhe Giigohn. She is a graduate of Horticulture Science and earned a Masters of Indigenous Philosophy from 7th Generation Institute in Fort Frances. Shelley’s first teacher was her grandmother, BazhadawgumigoKwe who taught her how to harvest food and plants as medicine and has used this knowledge in the restoration of Indigenous plants; designing gardens and teachings on the land. Prior to being appointed as Project Lead for Indigenous Women in Agriculture with the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Shelley was the Indigenous Advisor and Dean of Indigenous Education and Engagement at Humber College. Shelley is the Cultural Advisor and Instructor at First Nation’s Technical Institute Aviation School based in Tyendinaga, Mohawk Territory.
