Marie-Josée Tardif / T8aminik Rankin

During the first 15 years of her professional life, Marie-Josée Tardif made a name for herself as a journalist and news anchor on major television and radio networks in Québec and elsewhere in Canada. In 2007, the elders of the Algonquin nation proposed that she take the long road of apprenticeship in their traditional medicine.

The elder T8aminik (Dominique) Rankin was born in the forests of northwestern Québec, at a time when his parents preserved the nomadic way of life of their Anicinapek (Algonquin) ancestors.  At the age of seven he was designated by the elders to one day succeed his father as hereditary chief and medicine man. In 2016, Grandfather T8aminik was invested as a Knight of the National Order of Québec, the highest distinction granted by the government of this province. He is also the recipient of the Quebec National Assembly and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medals.