Who we are

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Aanii, I am Polly Bobiwash and I have been the Director of the Labour Market Development Department of the Anishinabek Nation since 2002. My experience in the Employment and Training field includes working as a Director of the Anishinabek Nation, an Employment Counsellor and a Project Officer with the goal of helping individuals and communities develop programs to achieve success in employment. I am honoured to serve as a helper for Anishinabek Nation communities.

I am a proud member of the Wahnapitae First Nation and have close ties to Thessalon First Nation. I have spent many years in the urban centers of Sudbury and Toronto and enjoy the hustle and bustle of urban communities.

I am proud of my children and take pride and delight in spending time with my grandchildren. Miigwech.

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Wachaye, my name is Janet Blackned, I am Senior Program Officer with the LMDD. I am originally from Moose Factory – Moose Cree First Nation. We moved to North Bay in 2007 for my education and made it my home for the past 17 years. I am a Business Administration Graduate from Canadore College and I have been with the Labour Market Development Department since 2011. My immediate family are three beautiful daughters and I’m blessed with four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I enjoy outdoor activities, spending time with family, travelling and attending concerts.

My current role as the Senior Program Officer is to assist with program administration while working with First Nation Program Agreement Holders to develop, support and monitor agreements, budgets and activities to ensure effective use of Program resources. I also coordinate and monitor special projects and training and provide one to one coaching that supports the professional development of First Nation associates.

Miigwech.

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Aanii, my name is Carolyn Doxtator and I am from the Oneida Nation, a small community located southwest of London where I was born and raised. For the past year I have filled the ELCC Coordinator position operating under the Labour Market Development Department. Before joining the LMDD team, I was the Education Development Officer at Anishinabek Education Institute where I got my start as an instructor for the Native Early Childhood Education Program and the NCW and Child Welfare Advocate programs.

My career as an Early Childhood Educator began in 1996 and I have continued to build on my experiences and have become passionate about advocating and strengthening our voices for our children and our families to have access to quality childcare. I also see my role as advocating for communities to have more access to their language, culture and traditions.

I am proud of my children and take pride and delight in spending time with my grandchildren. Miigwech.

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Aanii! Marcia Manitowabi nee Assinewai nindizhinikaaz. I am from Wiikwemikoong Unceded Territory. I am a Finance Coordinator for the Anishinabek Nation in the Labour Market Development Department, mainly focusing on the Financial Management of our ESDC Funding Agreements including the 39 multi-year First Nation Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare Agreements, 8 multi-year First Nation Inuit Childcare Initiative Agreements and supporting the 8 Local Delivery Mechanisms (LDMs) Agreements with multi-year financial review and reconciliations. I graduated from Business- Accounting and have been working in Accounting/Finance for 13+ years. Before my time with the Anishinabek Nation, I held positions within Canadore College’s Accounting Department and Kinoomaadziwin Education Body’s Finance Department, and also served a 5-year volunteer position as the Treasurer for North Bay Girls Hockey Association. I am currently completing a post-grad program in Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting.

In my time outside of work, I enjoy activities in the great-outdoors – kayaking, camping with my family, snowshoeing, and enjoy making memories with my family in all our travel adventures. And of course, cheering on my kids in all their extra-curricular activities.

My passion has always been to work with and for our First Nations and I am very grateful for this opportunity to support and work diligently with and for our First Nations here at Anishinabek Nation.

I am proud of my children and take pride and delight in spending time with my grandchildren. Miigwech.

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Hi I am Becky Pineo and I am a member of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg (Pic Mobert) First Nation. I have been with Anishinabek Nation since May 2023, where I started as the Administrative Assistant for the LMD Department and am now a Program Officer working mostly with the ELCC agreements. I have worked as a Store Manager for American Eagle before going back to school in 2018. I graduated from Canadore with a diploma in business accounting. After school I worked at an accounting firm for just over a year before getting hired at Anishinabek Nation. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and enjoy various crafts such as beading, crocheting, knitting and sewing. I also take time to enjoy the outdoors with my family on annual camping trips.

My passion has always been to work with and for our First Nations and I am very grateful for this opportunity to support and work diligently with and for our First Nations here at Anishinabek Nation.

I am proud of my children and take pride and delight in spending time with my grandchildren. Miigwech.

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Hello, my name is Sankeertana. Originally from India, I moved to Canada last year. Having worked several years in India, I am excited to bring my skills to my role as Program Officer in the Labour Market Development Department and uphold the rich values of the community, especially the Ngo Dwe Waangizid Anishinaabe. I enjoy music and have learnt Indian classical music growing up. Besides English, I speak Telugu and Hindi (Indian regional languages) and am eager to learn Anishinaabemowin. I also love being amidst nature and am grateful for the opportunity to work on this beautiful land. Miigwech.

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Aanii, Jennilee ndiznikaaz. Kebaowek indibendaagoz. North Bay megwaa ndidaa. Nishnaabe kwe endow. My name is Jennilee Peplinskie and I am a member of Kebaowek First Nation. I have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Major in Marketing and currently work as the Communications and Professional Development Coordinator with the Labour Market Development Department. I have been working with the LMDD on and off since 2015 where I began as a summer student. In my spare time I enjoy outdoor recreation (canoeing, camping, hiking), crafting (beading, drawing, knitting, quill work), travelling, and spending my free time with those I love. Miigwech! 

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Aanii! I’m Jenny Boutin, and I am currently the Administrative Assistant for the Labour Market Development Department. I bring a wealth of experience in administration, management, and customer service to my role. I thrive on supporting my team and making a positive impact in my work environment. When I’m not at the office, you can find me outdoors-being in nature is my happy place! I love being outdoors and spending quality time with my family. I believe that balance is key and I cherish the time spent where I can recharge. I’m always eager to embrace new challenges and adventures, both at work and outside of it.

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Tammy Cayer-Dokis is from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and resides in North Bay with her family. She enjoys being on the land in Dokis First Nation along the French River and is passionate about outdoors education, and land-based learning. Tammy brings her knowledge and experience of working within the realms of decolonizing education, Indigenous research, curriculum development and land/cultural-based education. Her role at the Anishinabek Nation as the Early Larning and Child Care Quality Improvement Project Manager in the Labour Market Development Department will create the opportunity to positively impact the lives of children, youth, and families.

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Aaniin, Boozhoo! Carolynne Warton ndizhinikaaz, waabizheshi ndodem. I am from Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. I have recently joined the Early Learning & Child Care Quality Improvement team as a Project Researcher. In addition to this role, I am pursuing my PhD in Indigenous Studies at Trent University and support children and families as a Registered Psychotherapist. Throughout my career, my work has always been dedicated to our children. 

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Aanii. Boozhoo. Amanda n’dizhnikaaz. Batchewana First Nation n’doonjiba. Hello, my name is Amanda and I am an Anishinaabekwe educator from Batchewana First Nation with maternal ties to Garden River First Nation. With nearly 30 years of teaching experience across Canada, Japan, and the United States, I have taught learners from kindergarten to adulthood. My passion for lifelong learning has led me to pursue a PhD at Trent University, where I am deepening my connection to culture by learning Anishinaabemowin. I am deeply committed to enhancing educational outcomes for Indigenous children and families through culturally grounded, evidence-based practices that honour community voices and traditions in my role as Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Project Researcher.

Who we are

Polly Bobiwash, E-bminzhaa'dang Nakiiwin Zhichigan, Director

Janet Blackned, Zhichigewinan Myaajiishkaatoot E-niigaanzid Senior Project Officer

Carolyn Doxtator, Shki-Kinoomadwin E-nkid Early Learning & Child Care Coordinator

Marcia Manitowabi, Zhoonyaa Bemiikang Finance Coordinator

Becky Pineo Zhichigewinan Myaajiishkaatoot Program Officer

Sankeertana Singh, Zhichigewinan Myaajiishkaatoot Program Officer

Jennilee Peplinski, Dibaajimowin miiniwaa Kinoomaadwin E-nkiitang Nakiiwin Zhichigan Communications & Professional Development Coordinator

Jenny MacInnis, Nokiitaagewining Nyaadmaaget Administrative Assistant

Tammy Cayer-Dokis, Ezhi-mno-gshke’ewizing kognaawsang nokiijigan E-niigaanziik'ki-dang Early Learning and Childcare Quality Improvement Project Manager

Carolynne Warton, Ezhi-mno-gshke’ewizing kognaawsang nokiijigan E-gweji-debinang Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Project Researcher

Amanda McCabe, Ezhi-mno-gshke’ewizing kognaawsang nokiijigan E-gweji-debinang Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Project Researcher

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