At first he didn’t know what his career was going to be, but the journey to finding his path gave him many opportunities to help in many different ways. Thomas Anthony Biron grew up near Sault Saint Marie. A dual citizen with both Canadian and American citizenship, he went to boarding school in Michigan when he was young. He spent time in Garden River in the US where his dad was from and his home in Ontario at various points in his life. Growing up, he fished, cut wood, gathered maple syrup and learned survival teachings on the land from his family. 

These days, Biron teaches college and conducts research. He was thirty-eight years old when he received his traditional name, Thunder Eagle. “I've been working across both sides of that river for my whole career and so in some ways, I suppose maybe that's how they saw that I was able to do some work in a bigger, broader way but I didn't see myself like that,”he explains. 

When asked why he became an educator, Biron says, “It was not all my decision. It was also a need from the community.” It wasn’t a straight line to the classroom, though. For three years after graduation, Biron played his guitar and travelled before joining the US Army and becoming a medic. He thought he might become a doctor but realized he would not be a good fit. After his time in the military, he went back to college as a single father at Lake Superior State University. He had dropped out of college before but this time went better. 

While in school, Biron worked for the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians as a social work trainee. “I began to realize it's okay to not have a big, huge dream… Take small steps, get the course done, go to the ceremonies, listen and and when you find that you can't solve some of the problems that are put in front of you, then you learn from that too,” he recalls. 

“Going back to our gatherings and ceremonies, and that was way beyond PhD studies for me. It was very hard but I went and I encourage everybody who can.”

Some of the obstacles Biron faced over the years were around not being transparent with others, realizing he wasn’t heading in the right direction in his life, that he was drinking and using substances too much and trying to find himself. He was asking himself, “how do I get through these hard times, and how do I deal with them so that I don't hurt anyone or hurt myself?” 

As Biron matured, got married and started a family, he became more responsible and took on the role of being a helper more and more culturally and professionally. He started to realize what he wanted out of life. He went on to become Tribal Health Director, helped build a healing lodge and repatriated ancestral remains. He also had the chance to play in a band. “I also realized it's okay for me to treat me to a gift or a good time, or good meal, or just something for me,” he shares. At times he faced financial instability, but he was resourceful and got through hard times.   

Being part of the healing lodge project was transformative in his life. After completing his undergraduate studies and entering graduate school in medical sociology in Western Michigan University, Biron had the opportunity to be a helper, sitting with all seven communities to consult about the lodge and working with Dan Pine and his family. Working with communities, elders, and the government to bring the vision of community leadership to life was a powerful experience. A lifelong learner, he later went on to take an educational doctorate program.

For students considering leaving their communities to pursue their education or professions, BIron acknowledges his experience was vastly different but says, “Don't be afraid to try it… You gotta believe. You gotta stick with it. Gotta be brave, all these teachings, seven teachings, they all work together and they're not always easy, but, it's okay to step outside of the formal education, structured education system of what we call education, and go and seek knowledge from other teachers and listen, and that will work to your advantage, too.” He also reinforces the medicinal value of going home for those who are able. 

“I've been very lucky to have people around me that just didn't give up on me and so I've been very lucky, very fortunate, and always grateful.”

When it comes to maintaining his mental health, Biron has leaned into gratitude and humility. “That's where you begin to realize I'm small. I need help, and I can help myself. I began to realize that if I try to tell the truth, if I try to be who I am, I feel better,” he confides. “Truth became a huge teaching and then accepting myself in a way that says you're okay, you can help other people, and that's where helping came in,” he continues.

If Biron could give a message to his younger self it would be that he was going to meet his mentor, that he would be a helper to him and to keep going, that it’s never a static process. “You’re never alone, but that doesn't mean life gets so easy that you can tralala and not be responsible,” he says. Looking at all the teachings and language learning opportunities he has available now, he is trying hard to learn and encourages others to do the same.  

“We all are on our own, but don't be shy about asking for help.”

When it comes to inspiration, Biron says, “Just being alive is a big deal. I've been through a lot of close calls, and so I'm very grateful to be here.” Beyond the miracle of his own survival, he’s motivated by the teachings that have been shared with him. While he tried to retire, seeing all the confusion that came about from the pandemic, he was drawn to help and lead knowing he is alive with knowledge and experience. He is also inspired by energetic young people who are ready to go. 

While he didn’t know what his career was going to be at first, finding his path gave Thomas Biron opportunities to help in many different ways. Working as a medic, in child welfare, building a healing lodge, in repatriation and now in education, he’s given back so much on both sides of the river. Helping others and accepting himself, he has an attitude of gratitude and pursues a life of humility.

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.