Blaine Grinder

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.