Presenters

Will is an educator, artist and cultural consultant works who lives in Northern Ontario with his wife, Robin, and their four children. He is of Ojibway-Anishinaabe/Scottish/French-Canadian ancestry and a member of the Michipicoten First Nation. He obtained a BFA from NSCAD in Halifax and a BA in Native Studies, B Ed (Aboriginal Teachers Certification Program) from Nipissing University, and an MA in Humanities from Laurentian University. He is currently working on an Inter-disciplinary Human Studies PhD (ABD). 

Will has delivered cultural awareness training for Compass: Child and Family Services, NOSM, University of Sudbury, Greater Sudbury Community Safety Paramedic service. As well, he has provided historical cultural insight, developed cultural curriculum for various institutions and Indigenous organization such as the North Shore Tribal Council. Will has taught Visual Arts at Cambrian College, Sault College & the White Mountain Academy of the Arts. He has also taught Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Language Fundamentals to all grade levels with the Sudbury Catholic District School. For more than 20 years, Will has been an instructor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Sudbury.  An award-winning mixed media visual artist, he has exhibitdd nationally and toured widely conducting cultural workshops and presenting traditional Anishinaabek storytelling. He was a recipient of the YMCA Peacemaker Award in 2016.