Barb Nolan was raised in South Bay on the Wikwemikong Reserve on Manitoulin Island and now resides in Garden River. She is a mother of five children and proud grandmother as well. Her career began as a Native Student Counselor with the Separate School Board in Sault Ste. Marie in 1972. Besides working in a counseling capacity, she has taught the Nishnaabemwin language at elementary school, at the post-secondary level, and is currently an adjunct instructor in the Nishnaabemwin Pane Immersion Program at Bay Mills Community College in Michigan. Although Barb has recently retired from her position as Counselor at Sault College, she continues to work independently as Facilitator and Trainer and this past summer she has been contracted to facilitate community gatherings to develop community healing strategies from the residual effects of residential school experiences.

Barb’s education includes her first four years of schooling at the residential school in Spanish Ontario. From there she returned to her home community to continue with her elementary and secondary education. She completed her degree in Psychology at Algoma University in 1993 and has also obtained a Native as a Second Language Instructor Diploma through Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She remains actively involved and delivers presentations and facilitates workshops on Nishnaabemwin language, Teambuilding, the Healing Power of Laughter and Play, Strategic Planning and Stress Management. She has also delivered Keynote Addresses at a number of conferences.