Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault

Staff Role:
Director of the Department of Culture and Lands Protection Tlicho Government

Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault is a Tłı̨chǫ Citizen born and raised in Behchokǫ̀, NT. Tammy graduated from the University of Saskatchewan from the Bachelor of Education Program with great distinction in 1997. Tammy taught in her community for many years before moving to the board office as a Culture and Language Coordinator with the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency. During this time Tammy has had the honor of working with many Tłı̨chǫ Elders to learn the Tłı̨chǫ culture through hands on learning alongside her students and colleagues. Tammy has taken part in four Trails of our Ancestors Canoes trips into each of the Tłı̨chǫ communıtıes. Tammy led the creation a K-Gr.2 immersion program in her community that is still running today.  Tammy also assisted the Government of the Northwest Territories with curriculum development in areas of Northern Studies (which included a module on Residential Schools, this work received national recognition) and the new Our Languages Curriculum. Tammy is the Chair for the Official Languages Board of the NWT. 

Tammy has received numerous awards for her work including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for contribution to her region and the NWT. Presently Tammy is the Director for the Department of Culture and Lands Protection for the Tłı̨chǫ Government. She holds a Masters Degree through the University of Victoria on Indigenous Language Revitalization. Tammy has three daughters and is now a proud grandmother! She lives in Edzo with her husband Frank.