Core members of the collective include the following local Indigenous and allied landscape technical consultants:
Mandakwe
Shelley Mandakwe Charles, Elder, Culture and Language Teacher (Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation), Keeper of Women's Teachings, Ceremony leader, Indigenous Education Specialist at York Region District School Board. She has worked extensively throughout First Nation communities across Canada, U.S and New Zealand incorporating Indigenous knowledge, worldview, language and tradition into educational opportunities. She was among the first cohort to receive a Masters Level degree in Indigenous Philosophy and co developed a four directional cultural framework for community visioning and engagement.
Onaubinisay
Jim Dumont, Onaubinisay (Walks Above the Ground), Senior Elder, Chief of the Eastern Doorway of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge, keeper of the sacred Waterdrum and leader in the Eastern part of Anishinaabe Midewiwin Territory, Professor Emeritus of Native Studies, Laurentian University. He has worked extensively with First Nations throughout Canada and the United States not only as an expert in cultural knowledge but in establishing cultural frameworks for community engagement, governance, language and Indigenous knowledge.
Melanie Sifton
Melanie Sifton, native plant horticulturist and soil restoration scientist and PhD candidate, Graduate Department of Forestry, John H. Daniels School of Architecture, Landscape & Design, University of Toronto. As the board mission committee chair for Toronto Botanical Garden, former vice president of horticulture and facilities at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and former director of Humber Arboretum and the Centre for Urban Ecology in Toronto, Melanie is passionate about teaching plant appreciation and landscape ecology. Her research focus is on soil restoration using native plants and microbes, but she also has an extensive background managing urban community landscape education and engagement programs. Her work includes research and collaborations on local Indigenous plant and soil restoration projects, plant-based museum installation, as well as technical consultation and garden operations management through multi-million dollar capital project design and construction phases.
Lynn Short
Lynn Short, Indigenous horticulture and invasive species consultant, Centre for Urban Ecology, Humber Arboretum, Humber College School of Applied Technology. Lynn has extensive experience working with the TRCA and has designed courses specifically related to horticulture in the area of plant identification, propagation and the restoration of Indigenous species. She has worked with Shelley in the reintroduction of Indigenous plants in the arboretum building an Indigenous medicine garden and specializes in invasive species. Lynn is a graduate of the Indigenous Knowledge Certificate program taught by Jim Dumont.
Jonathon Araujo Redbird
Band member of
Saugeen Ojibway Nation with ancestry from
Wikwemikong Unceded. Jonathon has nearly two decades of entrepreneurship experience developing key
skills in leadership, finance, strategy, and innovation.
Jonathon has visited over 250 Indigenous
communities across Mother Earth learning and
teaching on his journey. Jonathon is passionate
about personal development, focusing on heart,
mind, body, and spirit, improving self and community.
Jonathon has completed his Master of Management Innovation and
Entrepreneurship from Smith School of Business, Queen’s University. Jonathon was
awarded Entrepreneur of the Year (2019) from the Toronto Regional Board of Trade
for his many developments in innovation including but not limited to UAV Delivery Technologies, Innovating supply chains for First Nation communities, and supporting a capital raise of $8.2M for the City of Toronto’s
Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Jonathon has worked with many peoples from many sectors. Jonathon’s aspiration is to
support Indigenous peoples and Indigenous communities in becoming the world
leaders in innovative socio-economic impact, creating real equity for the people and planet.
![robert[72094].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602ed85abc8b6e6123cd5504/1624980778377-XMY1VBJHN7CN1DN3HTLJ/robert%5B72094%5D.jpg)
Rob Lipscombe
Georgina Island First Nation
Certified Arborist and graduate of Humber College Arboriculture Program specializing in Indigenous plants & trees, Indigenous plant restoration, revitalization of landscapes, and Arborist Reports. Having worked in Toronto, the GTA, King Township, and Lake Simcoe Region, Rob has worked with the McMichael Art Gallery Landscape Revitalization Project, MetroLinx Public Transportation corridor inventory, and Humber College arboretum in the restoration and re-introduction of Indigenous plant species along the Humber River Watershed. As an Indigenous entrepreneur, instructor, and small business owner, Rob has completed tree maintenance and arborist reports for the Chippewas of Georgina Island and the surrounding area.