Spotlight: Jordan Tabobondung

Wasanowndogoquay ndizhinakawz, Amik ndodem, Wasauksing minowa Shawanaga ndonjiba; Anishinawbe, Bodewahdomi Quay indaaw. Abiding Bezho-Mide quay indaaw. Nmisiwendahn nezho mideweyawn.

Jordan Tabobondung is also known by her true spirit name Wasanowndogoquay which means: “Woman who is heard from a Far.” She is of the Amik or Beaver clan of the Parry Sound area and was raised in the communities of Wasauksing and Shawanaga First Nations. She is of Anishinawbe and Bodewahdomi lineage and Midewiwin of the Three Fires Lodge.

Jordan is a changemaker committed to making the world a better place by working with various initiatives and organizations in her community.

Check out her story below:

Q: What inspires you?

A: I’ve received the core of my inspiration from past experiences, dreams, stories and the things I’ve seen as I’ve been walking through creation. Culture, community and spiritually are a huge part of my inspiration through connections to my families, my extended families and learning about the stories, teachings and history of our people.

The way I have grown up brought me through many different learning opportunities both traditional and mainstream which has driven me to explore my potential through growth and learning in both worlds. When I was younger I used to think that my community and our lives there on the island was the whole world. I didn’t even realize that I was part of a minority until I started going to school in town and the city because the differences were pointed out by the other kids.

“My hope is that more young people are able to achieve what it is they envision for themselves and the work they wish to do for themselves, their families and communities.”

I’ve encountered a lot of support, resistance, systemic barriers and encouragement to make change that I’ve had to face, accept and overcome to make it where I am today. I want to use what I’ve learned and the supports, opportunities or resources I’ve found are made available for young people that may not always have access or understanding of how to navigate through the challenges and barriers they may face.

My hope is that more young people are able to achieve what it is they envision for themselves and the work they wish to do for themselves, their families and communities. Through my work I’ve encountered many inspiring and motivated young people and I can now see a larger picture of movers and Changemakers — they really inspire me in how they carry out their work and make lasting changes for themselves and society.

Q: What initiatives or projects or groups are you involved with or leading?

A: I am currently the Project Development Coordinator at Social Entrepreneurship Evolution (SEE) and Urban Indigenous Youth for Change (UIYFC) based out of the NORDIK Institute at Algoma University. This internship opportunity has allowed me to gain understanding of the social economy and begin exploring the concepts of indigenous economic systems and innovations and developing youth friendly spaces and resources to share the information.

I am also involved with the 4Rs Youth Movement whose goal is to change the country by changing the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous youth through the strengths of our identities and diversity. I’ve also been doing some gardening with Algoma U’s Peoples Garden and in past the Algoma Educational Gardening Committee. This really gave me the opportunity to explore food sovereignty, food security and the hands on skills and resources needed to maintain a garden.

Q: What is the motivation behind your involvement with these initiatives?

A: The largest motivation in all of the work that I do is the Spirit, my love for the earth and the responsibility that I have as Anishinawbe quay. I really take that to heart to work for the people and the betterment of our communities and our nations.

“My motivation also comes from a lot of those really dark and traumatizing times in my life that I’ve had to experience and now draw strength from.”

My motivation also comes from a lot of those really dark and traumatizing times in my life that I’ve had to experience and now draw strength from. I want to ensure that I am vocal with other young people who I know are going through similar experiences about what helped me get through those dark times and making sure the ‘infrastructure’ (networks and mentors) are in place, visible and accessible.

Q: Who do you hope to impact/reach through the work that you are doing? Why?

A: I hope to impact young people that are going through the period of their fast life and navigating how to live in the Western world, in turn this will have ripple effects to those around them. I want to do this in a way that also engages and is informed by stories and traditions passed on by our elders. I would also want to have an impact on system changes so that young people have awareness, understanding access of programming available and get the most out of programming that adults, organizations and communities provide and have the potential to provide.

“I want to see young people with their hands on the earth and thriving because we’ve created a system of learning and exchange that is honoring who they are and their gifts — no matter where they come from.”

Q: Would you consider yourself a social entrepreneur? Why?

A: I would consider myself a social entrepreneur. Through my work with SEE and laying the foundations for UIYFC, I see the vision for the work that I want to do with my life are very similar with the principles of social entrepreneurship.

Q: Does this term ‘social entrepreneur’ resonate with you? What words might you connect with more?

A: It does resonate with me — mostly because I feel like I’m more familiar with the term than other people may be, because of my work with SEE and UIYFC. I see communities and people recognizing that word and different variations of entrepreneurship and the economy. Also the terms social innovator and indigenous innovator come to mind.

Q: How do you see this term resonating with communities?

A: I definitely see this term resonating with communities that I am a part of or work with. The Anishinawbe perspective is also one that focuses on working for the people, ensuring there is nobody going without and being inclusive to all peoples. That is really the foundation of the work that social entrepreneurs do — break down the barriers and make way for inclusion and participation. When we’re able to identify those things and make those changes, that’s when we create that social innovation piece, if its informed through indigenous worldview and way of doing things that would be the indigenous innovation part.

“That is really the foundation of the work that social entrepreneurs do — break down the barriers and make way for inclusion and participation.”

Q: What barriers/challenges have you encountered?

A: At first, it was not even knowing much about the social economy or what social entrepreneurs did or who they were. Also I find there is little accessible resources to support the learning of indigenous and non-indigenous peoples with cross-cultural dialogue is also challenging. Lifting the veil to the other side of history that doesn’t always get taught is really important to the work that I am trying to do.

I also found that there is little understanding of the history of Indigenous economies and innovation in the area or how that relates to the treaty relationships and alliances. Many people make reference the history but we’re trying to make the information available in a way that supports young people looking to start their own social enterprises.

“Lifting the veil to the other side of history that doesn’t always get taught is really important to the work that I am trying to do.”

Lastly, personal issues like anxiety can act as a barrier for me — constantly overcoming triggers of past trauma and experiences through the work, stories and people that I work with. Finding coping techniques that allow me to overcome setbacks is not always easy, though I feel like I am getting quicker at responding to my triggers. I’m always working on my own healing process so that I can share that with other young people that have similar internal barriers.

Q: How did you confront those challenges and barriers? What resources did you need? What resources do you project needing as you move forward?

A: Acknowledging them and voicing them is the number one thing. I’ve had to learn how to be out of my comfort zone, and let people who truly support me know of these barriers that I was encountering. That takes a lot, but if I don’t do that, others can’t support me in the best way possible, and I’ll keep struggling with that same thing. I do a lot of creative activities as an outlet — singing, arts, crafts, dancing.

I’ve learned a lot from the 4Rs cross-cultural facilitation training that I did. Learning about what actually makes a good and positive ally and navigating the lines between ignorance and naivety. Some people have no idea. Some people will come up with every way to ignore information that challenges their beliefs. Learning how to work with that in respectful ways on both sides is really important and something I am always learning.

Q: Who is your community of support?

A: My supports come from my family, my home communities, my friends and peers, relatives from the Three Fires Lodge, UIYFC core team , Algoma University and NORDIK, peer colleagues (UIYFC staff Krista shout out!), and others that are drawn to my life. They really help me to have an outlet to voice and grapple with the concepts I’m trying to understand because we come from that shared perspective of spirit as the foundation of everything or that we’re all in this together. I’m really grateful to have so many wonderful friends, loved ones and supporters with me in this journey.

Q: How important is a local, face-to-face community of support?

A: I think it’s really important. It helps to break down the social barriers of the different sectors we are coming from versus just e-mail and Facebook chats. It’s more personal and leaves less room for miscommunication to happen. With the UIYFC core team it’s nice to be able to start meetings with a smudge and check in and be able to support and encourage one another in person when we have our doubts or feel like giving up under the pressures we have through our work and day to day lives.

“Knowing there is somewhere you can go to learn more or hack out your ideas with like-minded people would be really helpful.”

Q: What would have made this process easier for you? What resources do you need?

A: It would be great to have access to a network of Indigenous professionals (mentors) in various sectors — having access to someone to ask questions to. I feel like mentors are out there, but they are really busy and it’s important to have someone who knows the ins and outs. I also feel that the infrastructure isn’t there to connect or house that space or drop-in place for dialogue. Some place that’s flexible for comfort and work that’s open to everyone. Knowing there is somewhere you can go to learn more or hack out your ideas with like-minded people would be really helpful.

Q: What is your hope for the future? What change do you want to see for young people?

A: My hope for the future would be that humanity goes back to living in balance with the other beings that we share this world with — the plants, the minerals, the animals. Being more conscious and respectful of those relationships — we depend on them so respect them and their rights. And I want to see young people with their hands on the earth and thriving because we’ve created a system of learning and exchange that is honoring who they are and their gifts — no matter where they come from. Having spaces to learn from one another so we can all get back to the true meaning of wampum such as the two row and the treaty agreements that are across Turtle Island that were made between settler peoples and Indigenous peoples of these lands.

“Sometimes I have no idea what or why I’m doing what I’m doing…but I just keep sticking to it because I believe in the vision and the impact of the intent for which I’m going about my work.”

Sometimes I have no idea what or why I’m doing what I’m doing…but I just keep sticking to it because I believe in the vision and the impact of the intent for which I’m going about my work. I am always open to growth, learning and understanding which is always what opens up in those experiences and people I encounter along this journey.

Originally published at www.seethechange.ca.