Student Spotlight: Meet Inspiring Animal Lover and Lakehead Student Zee Riley

Animals have been a constant in the life of Lakehead student Zhawanoogbiik (Zee) Riley. She's grown up surrounded by ducks, turkeys, chickens, dogs, and cats. More recently, horses and a cockatiel have joined her menagerie.

Photo Credit: Leylâ/Pexels

"My grandmother taught me how to rear domestic and wild animals by hand," Zee says. "I raised two geese in my bedroom until they were four months old. I had to clean my room four times a day until they were diaper trained."

Her rapport with animals made becoming a veterinarian a childhood dream.

"It's what I've wanted to do since I was six years old," she says.

Zee recently completed Lakehead's eight-month Indigenous STEM Access Program (ISTEM). The program offers preparatory courses and support to Indigenous students who want to apply to Lakehead degree programs in the sciences and engineering fields.

"ISTEM has been amazing," Zee says. "It gave me a university experience while teaching me time management and research skills. It also introduced me to different university services and helped me form a supportive community before starting my Honours Bachelor of Science this September."

Spirit Woman of the South

When it comes to her favourite animals, Zee says that she "gravitates to eagles, because it's my clan. I know where their nests are, and I can identify different eagles. I'm also very drawn to horses because of the bond and understanding I have with them." Photo Credit: David Dibert/Pexels

When she's not at Lakehead, Zee is at her family home, Riley Ranch on Three Fires, in southwestern Ontario. Zee's community is an integral part of her identity, always introducing herself in her language as: Zhawanoogbiik indizhinikaaz. Miigizi indoodem. Deshkan Ziibing indonjibaa. Anishinaabekwe indaaw.

This translates to: My name is Spirit Woman of the South. I am from Eagle Clan. I come from Antler River/Chippewa Thames First Nation. I am an Anishinaabe woman.

Riley Ranch is also the place where Zee runs a thriving business. "Last year, we began providing equine-assisted therapy to help young people aged 15-30 who are struggling with PTSD, intergenerational trauma, autism, ADHD, and depression," Zee says.

"Horses have an innate understanding of humans and our body language. They know if you are happy, anxious, sad, or mad. Our clients are coming from tough spots in their lives and aren't able to trust people, but they can trust horses."

Zee has a miniature horse, a quarter horse, and a Haflinger horse. As part of her equine-assisted therapy, each client is paired with a horse. "They become a team that learns to navigate obstacles together," Zee says. "Caring for an animal and developing a relationship based on mutual respect is a big part of healing." Photo Credit: Richard Burlton/richardworks/Unsplash

Standing Up for Animals

In addition to her therapy work, Zee is a passionate animal-welfare advocate. During the pandemic in 2020, while in high school, she established a no-cost animal food bank at the Riley Ranch on Three Fires.

These services became necessary after COVID-19 caused economic hardships and health orders made it necessary to impose restrictions on who could enter the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation, making it difficult for some community members to access veterinary care. "Some people were forced to choose between feeding their families and feeding their animals," Zee says. "Packs of wild dogs on the reserve began to get aggressive because they were starving."

In 2022, Zee entered the Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurship competition to raise awareness and money for her animal food bank. "I don't care what someone's financial situation is," Zee says. "If they need help for their animals, they'll get help." Photo Credit: RK Jajoria/Pexels

"We operate like a Tim Horton's drive-thru where people can pick up food for dogs and cats, but also hamsters, ferrets, and kangaroos," Zee continues.

"We even found food for a camel." Along with distributing food, Zee gives out free crates, leashes, and other pet supplies. Her animal-welfare activities extend to arranging at-cost spays, neuters, vaccinations, and other veterinarian services through her partnership with the East Village Animal Hospital in London.

Although Zee has just started her Lakehead degree, which is focused on animal sciences, she's already proven herself to be a fierce protector of all creatures, great and small.