Dawn is of Secwépemc ancestry and is the Founder/Curator of the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty.
Since 1983, Dawn has worked and studied horticulture, ethno-botany, adult education, and restoration of natural systems in formal institutions, as well as through her own healing and learning journey with Elders and traditional knowledge holders. Following the time spent teaching Aboriginal Adult Basic Education, Dawn has been dedicating her time and energy to land based healing and learning which led her to her life’s work of realizing herself more fully as a developing spirit aligned leader in the Indigenous food sovereignty movement.
Dawn has consistently organized and held the space over the last 16 years for mobilizing knowledge and networks that have been foundational for decolonizing food systems in community, regional and international networks where she has become internationally recognized as a published author on the topic.
Dawn’s work on the Decolonizing Research and Relationships is focused on creating a critical pathway of consciousness, that shines a light on the cross-cultural interface where Indigenous Food Sovereignty meets, social justice, climate change and regenerative food systems research, action and policy, planning and governance.
Some of the projects Dawn is leading include: Wild Salmon Caravan, Indigenous Food and Freedom School and, Dismantling Structural Racism in the Food System, Mapping out and Advocating for the Establishment of Indigenous Foodland Conservation Areas, and the Tsilhqot’in National Government Food Security/Sovereignty Project.
