Jesse Steckley

Jesse Steckley (Aubdauban — New Dawn / Forever Light) is a member of Wasauksing First Nation through the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. Raised in Barrie, Ontario, he is the son of Jeff Steckley — born in Newmarket, now of Midhurst — and Tracey Pawis (Boshdayosgaykwe) of Wasauksing, founder of G’zaagin Art Gallery. His family roots include the Tabobondung and Pawis families of Wasauksing—among them his grandmother Audrey Gladys Pawis (PamajewonKwe), a long-time Community Health Representative who helped shape health and social programs in Wasauksing for more than twenty-five years; her husband Lorne Frederick Pawis, who served in the military; and Audrey’s father, Alfred Edward Waubgeshig Tabobondung, a former chief. On his father’s side, the Steckley family is from all over Ontario, including his grandparents Keith Steckley and Annshiela Francis Young. His brother, Josh Pawis-Steckley (Mangeshig), is a nationally recognized Indigenous children’s book illustrator.

After beginning in the trades, Jesse completed the Aboriginal Community and Social Development diploma at Georgian College and studied Indigenous Studies with a Business Administration minor at Trent University. He later trained in web development at Juno College of Technology.

Jesse is best known for growing Manitoba’s largest Indigenous student awards program from 100 awards valued at $300,000 to 530 awards and $1.6 million in support. He has also contributed to Indigenous procurement initiatives with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and takes on the full range of economic reconciliation work with Indigenous communities and allies. In 2025, he was named to CBC Manitoba’s Future 40 for leadership in economic reconciliation.

Jesse works with Indigenous communities and allies on the full economic reconciliation file. He founded Waaseyak — access to capital, control stays with the community — and serves as Principal. He is the husband of Nicola Little, Artist & Cultural Connector from Garden Hill First Nation (Treaty 5), who has more than 15 years in the arts and cultural sector, and the father of Charlie and Zaagaasgeh Lucy. He lives in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 Territory.

This site is a simple point of contact. If you are an Indigenous community or an ally working on economic reconciliation — I’d welcome the conversation.