Jodie Ashini
Jodie Ashini (She/Her) is a member of the Innu Nation — born and raised in Sheshatshiu, in the Innu homeland of Nitassinan. She grew up knowing her ancestors, her life intertwined with strong Innu beliefs and knowledge of her culture. In pursuit of her passion for Innu history, she worked as an archaeological field technician on various community projects and studied archaeology at Memorial University. Currently, Jodie is the cultural guardian for the Innu Nation, where she advocates for Innu-led heritage and research, including framework for establishing Innu-led cultural centres in the communities of Sheshatshiu and Natuashish, consulting with researchers and organizations on Innu research policy and intellectual property rights, as well as lending a voice where needed to advocate for the importance of the culture and rights of Innu, and all Indigenous Peoples.
