Mariam Agawa

Elder and Knowledge Keeper

Elder Mariam Agawa was born in Sault Ste Marie and has lived in Goulais Bay since around the age of nine. Mariam has been fishing all her life, learning alongside her mother, father, and other siblings. Mariam is concerned that the Batchewana people are losing their language and way of life. She retains some knowledge of traditional medicines from her grandmother. She also makes fish patties, fries fish, and bakes fish pie served with a white sauce. Although she cannot read the Ojibway language, she can speak and express herself in the language. Her dream is to see fishing grow among young people so that one day it is only Indigneous people fishing Lake Superior.

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