Staff

Natasha Akiwenzie

Manager

Natasha is an experienced business owner and manager, running a successful provincially-regulated fish processing plant and community-supported fishery, including selling at Toronto farmers markets for 15 years.

Chris Akiwenzie

Lead – Aki Guardian

Chris manages the day-to-day activities of the team of Aki Guardians at Bagida’waad Alliance. He is also a teacher and certified BEAHR trainer, among other accreditation.

Board Members –

Andrew Akiwenzie

Chair & Nawash Commercial Fisher

Andrew was a Commercial Fisher from 2003-2018, owning and operating Akiwenzie’s Fish’n More with his wife Natasha. Previous to this, he worked as a carpenter and welder, in addition to doing sustenance fishing, with more than 40 years of experience in the fishing industry.

Caley Doran

Board Member-at-Large & Interpretive Guide

Caley is an Anishinaabe Interpretive Guide with the Cape Croker Park Anishinaabe Cultural Experiences program. After 25 years in the hospitality industry, managing restaurants and large teams he chose a new path connected to his passion for the outdoors and he now follows the footsteps of his ancestors. You can find Caley guiding hikes and land-based learning across Saugeen Ojibway Nation territory.

Kate Russell

Board Member & (incoming) Treasurer

Kate is a former journalist living on her homefarm near Flesherton. A former municipal community developer and museum curator, she is currently a freelance grant author, strategic planner and community catalyst for Beaver Valley Destination Stewardship

Guy Nadjiwon

Board Member-at-Large & Nawash Commercial Fisher

Guy has been a Commercial Fisher since the 90s, and previous to this was a sustenance Fisherman, in total for over 30 years experience. His nonprofit experience includes previous involvement with the United Way of Bruce Grey.

Leigh Grigg

Board Secretary & Recreation / Tourism Consultant

Leigh has a Commerce degree and lends expertise to non-profits in the region, also including The Sustainability Project and Peninsula Adventure Sports Association. He is a community organizer, father, mountain biker and a continuous learner of Forest Ecology, Indigenous Diplomacy and Shoreline Health.

Advisors –

Dr. John Anderson

Founding Board Member and Advisor & Retired Fisheries Professor

John is a retired fisheries scientist who spent most of his life studying cod in Newfoundland. When he retired back to Ontario, he studied how climate change is affecting the Great Lakes, and continues to advise us on projects.