Gwen Lane
Indigenous Program Coordinator, DCS, DEC, PDC
Gwen Lane is Indigenous Program Coordinator at SpruceLab Inc. She is a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation, and a Sixties Scoop survivor. She’s spent the last 12 years continuously embracing and learning her ceremonies, culture, and walking in a good way in Life. Gwen is a certified Permaculture Designer, and she is interested in environmental justice. Her knowledge and experience with food and cooking has also led her to an interest in food security and justice. She is a passionate cook, artist, and healer, and has worked as a Cook and Nutritionist, providing healthy meals to in-need communities for organizations including the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto. Gwen has also worked at Foodshare Toronto as a Farm Assistant, where honed her skills caring for and harvesting crops. Her Reiki certification, a form of Japanese energy healing, allows her to heal her own spirit and help others.
Gwen has also been a part of various art pieces including the Nindinawemaaganidok (All My Relations) Mural Project and the Anishnawbe Kwe (Seven Sisters) Film Project. Throughout her life, she has travelled approximately a quarter of the world, and made it her priority to learn from the different communities she has been invited into. Gwen aims to visit and work directly with First Nations to create collaborative solutions together, particularly permaculture solutions. Her work at SpruceLab allows her to share her love of teaching and education through a variety of projects and programs.
Select Projects:
Ted Rogers School of Management Indigenous Healing Garden (Toronto Metropolitan University), George Brown College Masterplan, and the Earth Tending program (paid green infrastructure training).
Services:
Project Advising and Coordination, Indigenous Design and Engagement, Training
Education:
George Brown College, Honours Diploma in Community Worker/Social Service
Qualifications:
Earth Tending: Green Infrastructure Training Program (SpruceLab Inc.)
Permaculture Design course (Verge Permaculture)