Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc.

What Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc. does

Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc. is a non-profit Tribal Council incorporated in Ontario, Canada, established in 2006 to serve six member First Nation communities in the Robinson Superior Region and Thunder Bay District of Northwestern Ontario. The member communities are Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek (Lake Nipigon Ojibway), Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay First Nation), Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sandpoint First Nation), Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg (Pic Mobert First Nation), Fort William First Nation, and the recently added (August 2025) Ojibway Nation of Saugeen. Operations are governed by a Board of Directors with each member Nation appointing a representative, and an Executive Director (Yolanda Wanakamik, succeeding Audrey Gilbeau) leads a staff of 50+ organized across eight departments: Administration, Human Resources, Finance, governWISE, Health and Safety, Access to Justice, Education, and Technical Services.

The organization's service portfolio spans governance support, comprehensive community planning, environmental and natural-resource advisory (forestry, aggregates, land use, mineral development), Access to Justice (lawyer services, restorative justice pre-charge diversion, victim services, community correctional work), education (employer/employee development, work readiness, youth engagement), health and safety advisory, and the governWISE regional program delivering finance, human resources, and IM/IT advisory services to member communities. Its flagship branded program is the Spirit Builder Movement — an Indigenous cultural competency and trauma-informed training curriculum co-developed with Maya Chacaby and Glendon College at York University, which has trained over 10,000 participants across school boards, health service providers, hospitals, law enforcement, Children's Aid, municipal leadership, provincial ministries, and Tribal Councils. Spirit Builder graduates access a dedicated online portal for ongoing community and resource sharing. A complementary Junior Spirit Builders youth program (ages 12-16), funded by Canada Service Corps, was launched with day-camp delivery at Confederation College.

Nokiiwin's business model is community-led rather than commercial. Revenue is sourced primarily from federal and provincial government program funding for member services, supplemented by program-specific grants such as Canada Service Corps (Junior Spirit Builders) and partnership agreements with organizations like WSIB (workplace health and safety). The August 2025 WSIB partnership explicitly targets extending health and safety services from the workplace into the broader community. Distribution is direct — on-the-ground service delivery to member Nations from a head office in Biinjiiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek and a satellite office at 384 Fort William Road, Thunder Bay — supported by training cohorts, community events such as the annual Unity Gathering, and a modest digital footprint (website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, mailing list). Nokiiwin does not disclose pricing publicly, has no proprietary technology platform beyond the Spirit Builder Portal, and has no disclosed AI/ML, API, or SDK offerings.

Name

Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc.

Legal name

Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc.

Website

https://nokiiwin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc. is a non-profit Tribal Council serving six First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario with governance, health and safety, justice, education, and technical services, anchored by its Spirit Builder Indigenous cultural-competency training program and governWISE advisory services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Community Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150), American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (92115)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD), Tribal Technical & Workforce Development Colleges (Trades/Applied Programs) (EDAHANAE)

Keywords

• Tribal council services
• First nations governance
• Indigenous community support
• Cultural competency training
• Tribal administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Thunder Bay

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding for Member Services: Core operational funding from federal and provincial government programs to deliver services to member First Nation communities including governance, health, justice, education, and technical services.
2. Program-Specific Grants: Funding for specific programs such as Canada Service Corps funding for Junior Spirit Builders program, and partnership agreements with organizations like WSIB.
3. Professional Services: Delivery of specialized services such as victim support advocacy, environmental health services, and justice programs to Indigenous communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc. is a non-profit tribal council delivering governance, health and safety, justice, education, technical, and finance advisory services to six member First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario. It also operates the Spirit Builder Indigenous cultural competency and trauma-informed training program in partnership with Glendon College at York University, and the governWISE regional governance support initiative.

Product overview

Nokiiwin Tribal Council is a dynamic non-profit organization serving six First Nation communities through a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Spirit Builder Movement (cultural competency and trauma-informed training with an online portal), Junior Spirit Builders (youth cultural program), governWISE (governance and technical advisory services), the Community Resource Guide (wellness resource portal), and departmental services covering Access to Justice, Health and Safety, Environmental Health, Education, and Natural Resources advisory. The organization focuses on community well-being through programs guided by the Seven Sacred Teachings—Love, Bravery, Respect, Honesty, Truth, Wisdom, and Humility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spirit Builder: An Indigenous cultural competency and trauma-informed training program developed in partnership with Glendon College at York University, focusing on spreading radical kindness and contributing to the resurgence of Anishinaabe culture.
• Junior Spirit Builders
• governWISE

Products and services

• Spirit Builder Movement Indigenous cultural competency and trauma-informed training program focused on spreading radical kindness and contributing to Anishinaabe cultural resurgence. Delivered through partnership with Glendon College at York University and offered several times per year.
• Spirit Builder Online Portal Online portal for graduates of Indigenous Cultural Competency and Trauma-Informed Training to connect, share resources, and continue being supported as they spread kindness and Indigenous cultural resurgence.
• Junior Spirit Builders Week-long day camp program for youth aged 12-16 in Thunder Bay that teaches skills to complete volunteer experiences focused on supporting Indigenous cultural resurgence, including crafts, traditional teachings, and a mini-powwow. Funded by Canada Service Corps.
• governWISE Governance support program providing advisory services and training in areas including housing, operations and maintenance, water and wastewater, capital planning, fire and safety, environment, and infrastructure; plus finance, HR, and IM/IT advisory services.
• Community Resource Guide (G'minoomaadozimin) Comprehensive resource wheel providing emergency numbers, crisis support, and wellness resources for member First Nations covering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
• Technical Services Advisory services and training to member communities in housing, operations and maintenance of capital assets, water and wastewater, capital planning and development, fire and safety, environment, and infrastructure including electrification, roads and irrigation.
• Access to Justice Department Legal services and support including lawyer services, restorative justice pre-charge diversion liaison, victim services healing and wellness, community correctional work, and cultural support.
• Health and Safety Services Health protection services, wellness programs, and workplace health and safety advisory for Indigenous peoples and member communities.
• Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP) Indigenous-designed community planning support including workplan development, community input facilitation, action planning, and implementation support for long-term holistic community visions.
• Natural Resource Advisory Guidance on forestry, aggregate, and land use projects, acting as a bridge between communities and government agencies to ensure meaningful consultation and protect Indigenous and Treaty Rights.
• Kindness Training (Our Journey Away from Lateral Violence) A workshop delivering messages related to traditional teachings about awareness of thoughts and actions, exploring effects of negative words and behavior on self and others.
• Environmental Health Services Environmental health protection, advocacy, and advisory services for Indigenous communities.
• Victim Support Advocate Services Victim support advocate services providing development of victims of crime services through engagement at regional and member First Nation level.
• Education Department Education support services including education manager, advisors for education and youth engagement, employer development, employee development, and work readiness programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 participants trained through Spirit Builder program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2025Partnership between Nokiiwin and WSIB focused on workplace health and safety services. The partnership aims to spread health and safety beyond the workplace into the community. Includes WSIB's vice president of workplace health and safety services Rod Cook collaborating with Nokiiwin leadership including incoming executive director Yolanda Wanakamik and board president Ian Bannon.
• Glendon College at York UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering Indigenous Cultural Competencies and Trauma-Informed Practice Certificate program. Nokiiwin and Maya Chacaby co-developed the curriculum with Glendon College. Training is offered several times per year and the next offering starts March 6, 2026.
• Canada Service CorpscoreOthersFederal government program funding the Junior Spirit Builders program. Provides free participation for youth aged 12-16, including transportation and meals. Participants who complete 120 hours by March 31, 2027 receive acknowledgment from the government.
• Confederation CollegeminorOthersProvides space at Confederation College for Junior Spirit Builders day camps in Thunder Bay. Both inside and outside activities are offered at the venue.
• Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner listed on Nokiiwin's employment opportunities page. NAN career opportunities are shared with Nokiiwin community members.
• Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner listed on Nokiiwin's employment opportunities page. ONWA career opportunities are shared with Nokiiwin community members.
• Wequedong Lodge of Thunder BayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner listed on Nokiiwin's employment opportunities page. Employment opportunities are shared with community members.
• Anishinabek Employment and Training ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing strategic direction for management of multi-million dollar training to employment fund. Joe Donio is involved with this organization promoting regional energy projects.
• Waaskiinaysay Ziibi Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional energy projects organization. Joe Donio, Director of Nokiiwin and Development Manager for Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek, is involved with this organization.
• Landmark Hotel PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoe Donio led the creation of a partnership of 27 First Nations to own and operate the 104 room Landmark Hotel in Thunder Bay.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nokiiwin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nokiiwin
• Instagraminstagram.com/nokiiwintc/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR31YacM4QH2IYWtQ-8ylgN6nxYn6pvlQFyw4pCBVDbhwVTw6VwEXfVMg1c_aem_iKys-cJj9t_wWZ-roL6MtA
• Xx.com/NokiiwinTribal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc.