Remembrances of the Rez 1960-1995

Wahpshki Tatipsittoosee was born in 1960 on the Sagkeeng First Nation, also known as the Fort Alexander Indian Reserve, in Manitoba, Canada. As a member of the Ojibway tribe of the Anishinabe nation, he is a registered Indian under the Indian Act.Tatipsittoosee grew up in a family of seven siblings, with two older and two younger brothers, as well as an older and younger sister. His parents were married for sixteen years before separating in 1971. He has been with his partner since 1986, and together they have raised five children-two daughters and three sons-and now enjoy nine grandchildrenTatipsittoosee spent most of his early schooling years in Sagkeeng, aside from brief periods in Powerview, a neighboring town, and in Winnipeg. He graduated high school in Sagkeeng in 1979. Although his family frequently moved between Sagkeeng and Winnipeg, their stays in Winnipeg were often short and involved multiple relocations.Tatipsittoosee began his higher education at the University of Manitoba, first pursuing physical education but later switching to an arts program after struggling with the demands of the former. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1989, despite the interruptions in his education caused by alcohol addiction. After overcoming his addiction, Tatipsittoosee became a youth and addiction counselor, eventually finding his way to law school. In 2000, he was called to the bar and began his legal career focusing on First Nations Law, representing issues that impact First Nations communities and governments.Tatipsittoosee's professional work includes time spent on a Self-Government Agreement, and he has also represented Residential School Survivors in the Settlement Agreement process. This role provided him with firsthand knowledge of the profound trauma caused by Indian residential schools, which has deeply affected generations of First Nations people.Through his life and work, Wahpshki Tatipsittoosee has contributed significantly to advocating for justice and healing for Indigenous peoples, while reflecting on his own journey from the Sagkeeng First Nation to a career dedicated to the rights of First Nations.