Blaine Grinder

Advisor Contractor. Blaine Grinder is a proud Tsilhqot'in educator, leader, and land defender from the Tl'etinqox community. He has served his Nation as the Tsilhqot'in Land-Base Healing Coordinator. Blaine is dedicated to learning and teaching the Tsilhqot'in language and culture, working with youth to ensure this knowledge is passed down through generations. He has experience in decision-making regarding land and water stewardship and engages with various levels of government on these issues. Blaine is also involved in land-based initiatives, including those related to climate change.

Blaine Grinder

I work as an independent sole proprietorship with Nenqay Ch’ed Naxidan - We

Walk the Earth

EXPERIENCE

Tsilhqot’in National Government— Nidlin

Advisor/Contractor

April, 2022 - PRESENT

• Advising and collaboration with Nidlin team, monthly meetings and currently negotiating with the province and Feds on

Tsilhqot’in jurisdiction and law.

• Leadership and community engagements in all Tsilhqot’in communities and presentations, member interviews and feedback to the Nidlin team.
• Working with Nildin team on historic signing in June 2024

Nenqay Che’d Naxidan- We Walk on Earth, Tl’etinqox

Research team— Independent research lead

May 2022 - Present

• Lead for an independent research team working with Nenqay

Che’d Naxidan. The team is made up of fluent speakers and writers, Elder and Leadership, PhD member and Youth all from

Tl’etinqox .

• We have conducted interviews with Tl’etinqox members in regards to post covid, fires and climate change.
• We have as a team traveled to Arizona in a cross cultural exchange to meet with other Indigenous nations, researchers, knowledge keepers with a focus on water issues and data sovereignty.
• Currently working on translating documents into Tsilhqot’in,

applying for further research initiatives from the team.

• Working with UNBC and UBC solely in the field of research.

Tl’etinqox Adult Education Instructor

Sept 2018 to June 2022

• Recruitment of students into the program and have more than doubled student numbers. Land based education on the land,

trapping, hunting, medicine harvesting with students.

• Guided students in continuing their studies at the university level.

Successful grant proposals to have carving and trapping courses in community, Also worked with all ages and grades and in Tsilhqot’in language and culture.

SKILLS

Currently on the Tsilhqot’in governance, stewardship, fish and wildlife team, since 2008.

Currently finishing my third year in a Tsilhqot’in mentorship program with

First peoples council.

AWARDS

Williams Lake City Council and

Williams Lake RCMP Insp. Jeff

Pelley presented Bill Drebit and

Blaine Grinder with certificates of appreciation for their efforts in detaining a suspect during an attempted bank robbery on Nov

28, 2017 at CIBC.

LANGUAGES

English, semi/fluent in

Tsilhqot’in and Spanish.

University of Northern British Columbia, Williams Lake —

Aboriginal Community Connections Coordinator

March 2015 to March 2017

• Recruitment of students into the Tsilhqot’in Language and Culture

Certificate Program.

• Assessment of students’ profiles to determine educational needs,

financial support needs, and other needs such as individualized support for completion of registration and other program requirements.

• Overview of registration process and follow-up reports for all students, as well as of late registrations and withdrawals.
• Ongoing support of University staff in all administrative tasks related to students’ information, registration procedures, band policies, funding policies, INAC policies, and all other pertinent protocols.
• Ongoing support of University staff in developing cultural competence and the necessary understanding of Indigenous students’ specific needs and challenges.
• Coordination of financial support and transportation.
• Developing and maintaining trust with students through strict confidentiality and a non-judgmental approach to their personal circumstances.
• Coordination of events.
• Communication liaison between the University staff, the communities’ education coordinators, students, and the leadership of involved communities.
• Collaboration in creating and teaching a first-year level First Nations experiential class.
• Ongoing one-on-one communication with students to determine their most suitable academic path, personal goals and interests,

ability to adjust to the program requirements, as well as specific obstacles faced by each student.

• Support for students in finding work and subsequent career options upon completion of the program.
• Continuous evaluation of the program and constructive feedback to

University staff for improving First Nations programs and retention of students.

Tl’etinqox Government Office Council Member: Portfolio-Education,

Youth, Stewardship Council

February 2009 to February 2018

• Decision making regarding a number of issues internally and externally: Band staff hiring/dismissal of over 80 employees in Health, Education, Band School,

administration and contractors.

• Management of an 8- 10 million annual budget.
• Increase in the number of post-secondary students’ funding in the four years by adding 10 more students, funding increased over $300,000.
• Development of a successful strategy for reducing the deficit in the community by half: keeping the Government Office out of third party management, implementing

4 day work week and reduced travel amounts, directing staff to finalize all reports due to INAC.

• Collaboration in the creation of capital projects in Tl’etinqox community, new 2

million dollar Health building.

• Organization and negotiation of baseline study of moose population with the

Provincial Government: two workers were hired to deal with wolf populations and feral horse round up and moose numbers.

• Worked on Mining policy, was involved with two successful fights for Teztan Biny.

• EDUCATION

Gonzaga University, Masters in Leadership and

Administration Degree

Sept, 2016 to May 2018

Four-semester, online Master's in Educational Leadership (M.Ed.)

program designed for practicing educators who aspire to become more effective formal and informal leaders in the K-12 environment.

Incorporating perspectives and practice of both teachers and administrators, coursework will explore theory and practice that provides you with the professional training to

● Develop as a reflective, educational leader committed to a spirit of inquiry and social justice

● Guide your community toward a rich, equitable, and comprehensive education for all students

● Create a school environment in which everyone can realize their potential

● Apply research and theory to practical experiences

● Engage in self-discovery, personal growth and development

● Education administration

● Training and development

● Education consulting

● Curriculum development / instructional design

● Capstone is a focus on Land based education for Tsilhqot’in youth.

● This is a base to create land based education for the Tsilhqot’in nation.

● Research overviewed Indigenous education models and decolonization.

Thompson University, Kamloops — Bachelor Arts of

General Studies Degree

Sept 2013 - May 2016

● Finished a law and environmental assessment 300 level class with UNBC 2013.

● Finished a Geography class with UNBC May 2014, with a focus on Indigenous issues with corporate mining companies.

Rural Development Exchange

University of Alberta

September 2004 – May 2005

● Worked closely with Indigenous farmers.

● Part of teaching Spanish to local people in rural Alberta.

● Facilitated workshops in small/large groups.

● Researched on water and land issues in Mexico.

● Interdisciplinary skills and communication.

● Cross-cultural communication skills.

Indigenous Studies Diploma

Institute of Indigenous Government

September 2000 – April 2002

● Studied colonization from an Indigenous perspective within North

America and abroad.

● Researched the effects of Industries like mining within traditional

Indigenous areas.

● Studied and written on the history of court cases pertaining to Rights and Title.