Katie Kaia’ton:ni Doreen

Katie Kaia’ton:ni Doreen belongs to the Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and sits with the Bear Clan in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Inspired by her experiences growing up on a First Nations Reserve under a series of long-term water advisories, Katie is committed to protecting the Great Lakes waters by sharing Indigenous knowledge. She draws from the Kanyen’kehá:ka ways of knowing about place and the traditional responsibilities humans have to the Earth according to the Haudenosaunee worldview. As the Biinaagami editorial and education coordinator, Katie bridges Indigenous and western epistemologies to encourage all to accept our shared responsibility to the Great Lakes. With degrees in geography, global development, and geographic education, Katie blends academic training with Indigenous land-based knowledge to advocate for water stewardship, language preservation, and environmental justice.