Meet Chevaun Toulouse
Aanii! Chevaun Toulouse nindizhinikaaz. Sagamok First Nation nindonjibaa. Ginoozhe nindoodem. Anishinaabe kwe ndow. Chevaun Toulouse; is a mother and a biologist for her home community Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation.
Sagamok Anishnawbek is situated between Lake Huron and the Spanish River. It is located across from Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world. There are many lakes and wetlands in her community, home to many wetland species now at risk.
Growing up on Sagamok Anishnawbek gave Chevaun an interest in and respect for the natural environment. As a child, she was outside every day, catching snakes and turtles in the swamps. She was exploring her surroundings, becoming familiar with the plant and animal species that lived around her and in her community.
Bachelor's Degree, Biology and Indigenous Environmental Science, Trent University, 2024
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Technician Diploma, Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology, 2015
Indigenous Environmental Leadership Pathways Certificate, Royal Roads University, 2023 • Indigenous Undergraduate
Summer Research Scholars Program, McMaster University, 2021 • Ontario Master Naturalist Certificate, Lakehead University, 2019
What do you love most about STEM?
I love that STEM is a very broad field with many different career opportunities.
I love working in the field, observing wildlife and encouraging youth to pursue the conservation field.
What is your earliest memory of being intrigued by STEM?
I was about 4 years old when I caught my first snake and became fascinated with reptiles. Watching Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter also helped shaped my goal to work with wildlife in the future.
What does your day-to-day role look like?
Depends on the season!
Late spring – early fall I am doing field work, tracking bats and surveying for species at risk turtles. A lot of being out on the land conducting field work and environmental monitoring.
The late fall -early spring is a lot of data entry, resource creation, outreach and reporting.
Reporting on all the fieldwork and monitoring efforts.
“This is me as a teenager with a baby snake I just caught”
-Chevaun
