Who I Am

Boozhoo, Tansi, and Hello. My name is Daphne Sinclair. I am an Anishinabe Kwe from Hollow Water First Nation. I have lived and grew up in my home community of Hollow Water First Nation, but like many other young people who struggle to find housing and work, I had to leave and venture to urban places to gain further education, find a home of my own and continue to gain skills and gain employment in other areas in housing and infrastructure.

For almost 20 years, I have ventured in many areas of Housing from proposal development services to project management as well as working directly in Communities with the day-to-day events housing brings on the front lines. There are many “angles” to see and comprehend when understanding the many options / solutions to be determined in making progress in Housing as a whole.

A great option that has been less explored with Housing areas, are our Traditional Ways of Housing within our Communities. From living in good quality homes, working together as a family to maintain healthy spaces, and to working as a Community striving for better ways of managing our homes. Healthy homes create healthy families. Back when, our People were very active throughout the year by helping each other erect homes, sharing hunted and fished foods, celebrating the seasons as a collective and applying their knowledge of using what was around them to heal their families.

Housing is more than just putting lumber together, it is where we take care of our families. I want to share these stories and make the push to bring back our values and teachings into the work we do today.

I would like to thank MAV Photography for allowing me to use her beautiful photos. Gitchi Miigwech.