Morning Star Tom is a proud mother of four, an anishinaabekwe from the Treaty #3 territory, and a passionate advocate for Indigenous education, wellness and self-determination. A Doctoral student at Lakehead University, she specializes in the social, cultural, and political contexts of education, centering anishinaabeg ways of knowing, being and doing.

Born to a family deeply impacted by the Indian Residential School (IRS) system and the Sixties Scoop, Morning Star’s early education was shaped by her parents decision to homeschool their children. Taught by her mother until the age of 12, she entered the public school system in Grade 9, experiencing firsthand the cultural shock of transitioning into mainstream education. This experience instilled in her a lifelong commitment to reimagining education for Indigenous learners.

Morning Star’s personal journey as a teen mom and survivor of domestic violence informs her advocacy work, as she channels her lived experiences into creating safe, more supportive systems for others. With a strong dedication to wholistic wellness, she also draws on her background as a fitness & nutrition coach, promoting balance of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our being and responsibility to community in both her personal and professional life.

With an extensive background in academia and community engagement, she has served as an instructor at Carleton University and Lakehead University, integrating Indigenous worldviews, governance, and traditional knowledge into higher education. Her expertise extends to community-based curriculum design, mental health advocacy, and Indigenous language revitalization, ensuring culturally relevant learning experiences for students of all levels.

Morning Star’s personal journey as a student, mother, and scholar inspired her Master’s thesis, No Longer Your Token Indian: Indigenous Stories of Navigation Through the Education System, which explores the lived experiences of Indigenous students within western colonial education structures. She has shared her work internationally, presenting in Hawaii, Aotearoa, Japan, Chile and Australia. Today, she continues to bridge traditional knowledge with contemporary education, advocating for systemic change and the reclamation of Indigenous ways of learning.