We at Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) celebrated our 40th year of operation in 2025!
SGEI is governed by a board of directors, made up of representatives from 10 local First Nation communities. Under their guidance and leadership, SGEI has built a firm foundation on language and culture.
As you’ll see in the video below — the second of a three-part series celebrating our 40th anniversary — when learners are immersed in their identities, it allows them to flourish.
Through language revitalization, ceremony, and community, SGEI helps inspire a sense of belonging and purpose in those we are entrusted with.
SGEI is honoured to empower learners today, tomorrow, and for the next seven generations.
Come back for next month’s blog post on how SGEI is Shaping the Future.
More about the people in the video:
Brent Tookenay, CEO
Brent worked closely under Delbert Horton, the founder of the organization, taking over as CEO after Delbert’s retirement in 2015. He began as a high school teacher in the early days of SGEI. Since becoming CEO, Brent has overseen many historic changes at SGEI including the construction of our new Rainy Lake Campus which opened in 2019, the opening of our Sioux Lookout Campus in 2021, the creation of the Anishinaabemodaa partnership between SGEI, RRDSB, and SayITFirst in 2017, and most recently, the renaming of the Rainy Lake Campus in late 2024, formerly known as the Fort Frances Campus.
Peggy Loyie, Vice Chair of SGEI’s Board of Directors
Since its founding, SGEI has been governed by the ten First Nations communities surrounding its main campus on Agency One lands. Peggy serves as the board’s Vice Chair as an executive member. Peggy is an active member of the community and has worked for years as the Program Manager of Rainy River District Victim Services in Fort Frances.
Shannon Chapman, Gaa-niigaanishkang Anishinaabemodaa Anokiiwin (The one who represents the Anishinaabemodaa program)
Shannon began her journey with SGEI as a summer student, working as a camp counsellor before enrolling in the Secondary School in her home community of Nigigoonsiminikaaning.
Today, as the Gaa-niigaanishkang Anishinaabemodaa Anokiiwin (lead of the language work), she represents the Waking Up Ojibwe – Anishinaabemodaa Language Initiative. The Initiative first began as a partnership with SGEI, its 10 governing communities, the Rainy River District School Board, and SayITFirst. Three years into the work, the Mastercard Foundation joined as a supporter, helping strengthen and expand efforts and the overall goal: to help put Anishinaabemowin back into the homes of the Anishinaabe people, reconnecting with speakers and empowering community-based programs.
Dennis Jones, Instructor and Knowledge Keeper
Pebaamibines, or Dennis Jones as he is known in English, has worked with the Ojibwe language for many years at Rainy River Community College, University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, Moorhead State University, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, and now SGEI. Over the past few years, Dennis has worked closely with Anishinaabemodaa as an instructor for the four-week immersion Daga Anishinaabemowin class and a consultant on the Medicine, Song, and Prayer class.
Pebaamibines has facilitated many staff retreats for the organization, sharing with staff his vast knowledge on Anishinaabe culture, his water drum, and his humour.
Shae Jordan, Gaa’gikinoo’amaaged Anishinaabemowin (The one who teaches the language)
Shae Jordan is a graduate of Anishinaabemodaa’s Anishinaabemowini-ogichitaag program, formerly known as the Adult Anishinaabemowin Revitalization Program, a three-year adult language program that blends incremental immersion and conversational skills with interdisciplinary learning to construct opportunities for learners to learn how to speak, understand, read, and write Anishinaabemowin. During her time as a student, Shae gained teaching experience by instructing Anishinaabemowin to local Grade 5 and 10 students at our annual Fall Harvest. Now, Shae works with the Anishinaabemodaa team as a language instructor.
Sean Taggart, Director if K-12
Sean is the Director of K-12 for the secondary department of SGEI. He has been with SGEI for more than 30 years. He began working for the organization as a high school teacher where he taught in-community in Couchiching, Rainy River First Nations, Mitaanjigaming, and Nigigoonsiminikaaning first nations, among other locations. He also worked as a co-op coordinator before moving into his role as the principal of K-12.
Sean now oversees the Secondary programming and the Elementary and Secondary Support Program (ESSP) and First Nations Student Success Program (FNSSP) out of the Rainy Lake Campus, the Adult Education program out of our Manidoo Baawaatig Campus in Kenora, and our Azhemiinigoziwin program currently located at our Rainy Lake and Sioux Lookout campuses.
Mark Sault, Former Director, Post-Secondary Student Support Program
Mark is the former director of the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) in Thunder Bay. He worked for SGEI for nearly 25 years. In 2023, Mark was awarded the Heritage and Cultural Award for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Kari Belanger, Azhemiinigoziwin Program Graduate
Kari is a recent graduate of the Azhemiinigoziwin program. At 35 years old, entering the program, Kari struggled with substance abuse, mental health issues, and the loss of two close family members. Now Kari is a strong, empowered Anishinaabekwe.
The Azhemiinigoziwin women’s empowerment program focuses on Anishinaabekweg revitalizing their inherent strength through education, Anishinaabemowin, cultural engagement, and other learning or skill development opportunities. Participants are empowered to further their high school or post-secondary education or enter the workforce. During the program, Anishinaabekweg reclaim their self-esteem, self-confidence, and renew their Anishinaabe identities.
Naomi Field, Board Chair
Naomi has been a member of SGEI’s board of directors for 26 years and has been its chair for 16. Naomi established the revised mission statement for SGEI that supported the direction of providing education and training for all people with the ultimate goal of providing degrees, diplomas, and certificates that are grounded in the knowledge systems of the Anishinaabe, recognizing the importance of the traditions of the First Nation territory, and most importantly, creating opportunities for everyone to access Anishinaabemowin.