Tristan Ashishkeesh was born and raised in Timmins, Ontario. He can trace his family back to Attawapiskat First Nation and before the community was created, his jabans (grandparents) trapped and hunted along Lawashi River.
Tristan is a traditional men's dancer at powwows and a singer and ceremony helper for memorial round dances in the winter. Tristan was the Executive Director at the Ojibway and Cree Cultural Centre but recently resigned to pursue a passion project in political activism. He has chosen to engage in political activism from an indigenous grassroots perspective. His recent journey started with a walk from Timmins to Toronto, alongside 6 other youth and ceremony helpers, to raise awareness about Ontario's Bill 5 and Canada's Bill C-5.