Rooted in Gwekwaadziwin: Season 2, Episode 1- Neil Debassige

We kick off Season 2 of Rooted in Gwekwaadziwin with educator, coach, and outdoors storyteller Neil Debassige. — the creator and host of Fuel The Fire TV, a series that follows Neil and his Pro Staff as they pursue wild game across Ontario and beyond. Viewers of Fuel the Fire get more than just the hunt — they see the real life that surrounds it: the early mornings, the near misses, and the balance of raising families, working, and living close to the land on Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world.

Neil joins us in the studio to talk about education, family, and the fine art of staying grounded in a digital world. From growing up in a teaching family to filming bear hunts, from raising kids through connection to confronting the pull of screens — Neil’s stories remind us that learning happens everywhere: in classrooms, on the land, and around the fire.

He also shares the mantra that has shaped his work and his life: “Do more of what you love, and less of what you don’t.”

It’s an honest, funny, and thoughtful conversation about land, learning, humility — and yes, a little talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs too.