THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 7, 2017
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 6:45 p.m. to study on the new relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Senator Lillian Eva Dyck (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: Good evening. I would like to welcome all honourable senators and members of the public who are watching this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, either here in the room or listening via the Web. For the sake of reconciliation, I would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional unceded lands of the Algonquin Peoples.
My name is Lillian Dyck from Saskatchewan, and I have the privilege and honour of chairing the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. I will invite my fellow senators to introduce themselves, starting with the deputy chair.
Senator Patterson: Dennis Patterson, senator for Nunavut.
Senator Tannas: Scott Tannas from Alberta.
Senator Doyle: Norman Doyle, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Senator Raine: Nancy Greene Raine from British Columbia.
Senator Enverga: Tobias Enverga from Ontario.
Senator Pate: Kim Pate from Ontario.
Senator Sinclair: Murray Sinclair, Manitoba.
[Translation]
Senator Dupuis: Renée Dupuis, senator from Quebec.
Senator Mégie: Marie-Françoise Mégie, senator from Quebec.
[English]
Senator Christmas: Dan Christmas, Nova Scotia.
Senator Watt: Charlie Watt, Nunavik.
Senator McPhedran: Marilou McPhedran, Manitoba.
The Chair: Thank you, senators.
Before we begin our exciting evening, we have two pieces of housekeeping to take care of. First, we need a motion for filming and photography. Is it agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you, senators.
Second, for this evening we required a small budget. Due to timing, we asked for emergency funds to do so. As per Senate rules, the budget has to be approved through the usual process, starting with the committee.
Is it agreed that the budget distributed to senators for the purpose of Indigenize the Senate Day be adopted?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you, senators. Now we can move to the main event.
This evening we are very happy to host our second annual indigenous youth leaders forum. We have nine youth from across the country who have been participating in activities and workshops all day. These youth have a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and we are very lucky to have them before us today.
We are continuing our study on creating a new relationship between the Crown and First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada. Each young person, each youth leader, will have a few minutes to present, followed by a question or two from senators. We have just over 10 minutes for each youth, and we will begin with Ms. Jennifer O’Bomsawin.
Jennifer O’Bomsawin, as an individual: Hello, everyone.
[Editor’s Note: The witness spoke in her native language.]
My name is Jennifer O’Bomsawin.
[Translation]
As the newly elected co-chair of the Assembly of First Nations Youth Council, I would like to share my experiences with you. I am also the spokesperson for the First Nations Youth Network for all of Quebec and Labrador. Regionally, I also represent all Aboriginal youth from the Wendake and Odanak communities, which is where I come from.
I come from a family that is very committed and for whom volunteer work is essential. I was always told that I could change the world and achieve great things. Both of my parents are members of the First Nations. I was raised in an Aboriginal community. So making a difference was essential to me. I thought it was unfair that we could not all be equal. I always wanted to be committed, but above all to bring about change. It was this desire that led me to get more involved. I now work in politics and am trying to change the lives of members of the First Nations.
At the age of 12, I decided to organize a march to demand better living conditions for First Nations children right across Canada. I was 12 and I recruited people from my community. I thought it was deplorable that children did not have access to clean drinking water, to health care as I did, or to education. I am fortunate to come from a community that is doing very well, a bit better than other communities. So I found it unfair that other children did not have the same opportunity.
After that, I got more involved. I created youth committees in the communities of Wendake and Odanak, to mobilize and recruit young people like myself who wanted to make a difference, because we are stronger together. That is what drove me in a sense. I also got involved in the First Nations youth council within the national youth council. This led to various activities, such as this one. So I would like to thank you for inviting me to say a few words for my people.
My experiences over the years have forged a strong identity in me and made me dream of changing the political reality for the First Nations. Since I was young, I have wanted to create a government for the First Nations, so their members are equal throughout the system and can represent themselves. It is kind of a crazy dream that I have. It is my youth, and that is what youth is for; we have to dream. I am very interested in this idea and I like to share it. I swear to you that I will get there one day; I do not know how, but no doubt with the help of my colleagues.
There are many obstacles facing young, francophone and Aboriginal women. It is not easy being in an English-speaking world. That drives me and keeps me going and opening more and more doors for those who will come after me. Everything I do is for those who will come after me and for those who blazed the trail before me. I am trying to change things, to make sure that my children, grandchildren and their children have a better world, so that one day there are no longer any distinctions between members of the First Nations and other Canadians, and we are all part of the same identity.
We have a wonderful history to share, which is also yours to some extent. Forums such as this one are essential for young people to speak out. This afternoon, I have been fortunate to meet young people from all over Canada who have shared their ideas and told me about the world they envision. It was exciting to learn that we dream of the same things. We dream of a world that is equal for everyone, with better living conditions, so the First Nations can take their place and be proud of who they are. Pride is what keeps me going, day after day, looking for change. I am deeply proud of who I am and will always be. I think it is important to be resilient, because my people are very resilient. That is why we can still say today that we are the First Nations of Canada, as we are a very resilient people. This is important even if it is difficult and requires a lot of effort and time. I will never give up because I have a goal and I always think of the people behind who do not have forums such as this one to speak out.
I dream of an autonomous Aboriginal government in Canada. I would like to achieve that one day. I would also like to be part of your Canada by working nation to nation at a practical level. Nation to nation means there is respect between the two nations, and that they are both honoured as fully-fledged nations. I hope for an easier relationship.
We were asked where we see ourselves in 20 years. I hope that most of my dreams will have come true, and I hope to have others by then. I hope that all communities in Canada have clean drinking water and access to the same resources as everyone else, that First Nations children will not be born at a disadvantage, but instead have a strong identity. I hope everyone has the same opportunities in this wonderful country of Canada, where I hope to raise my children in 20 years.
Having a very strong culture and language is also important to me. I come from two communities whose language has unfortunately been lost over time. The language is dormant. I hope to learn some words. Speaking just one or two words in our language would of course make our ancestors proud of us. I hope to have a culture that is just as strong in 20 years. I hope above all that the First Nations and Canadians will be able to come together and work together at a practical level, and stop working against each other or side by side. We belong to the same country. I hope you find some inspiration in these words.
In short, I have talked about what I want, what my dreams are. I am ready for questions now. I hope you never forget the Aboriginal youth of Canada. We have a large population. Give these young people the opportunity to speak up and share their dreams. We are a very vibrant youth that will change the world, I can guarantee it. This opportunity to meet with you gives us the chance to build a better future.
The Chair: Thank you, Ms. O’Bomsawin.
[English]
We will now have questions from senators.
[Translation]
Senator Mégie: Thank you very much. What a breath of fresh air it is to see these young people arriving here. No doubt, each one of you has a dream. I picked up on the themes of pride, language, even though it is disappearing, and equality for everyone.
We have heard from a good many experts recently who also told us that what matters to you is keeping your ancestral values. What are your thoughts on your ancestral values in light of everything that is happening now with social media and so on? You are part of a new wave. How can you balance this new wave while also hanging on to everything that connects you to your ancestors?
Ms. O’Bomsawin: For my part, it is important to keep in touch with my traditions and my culture through ceremonies, by playing a political role and by going back to the source. I like to see what my ancestors want from me, what changes they want from me, and what the community expects of me. I get my bearings through ceremonies. I am also taking Wendake and Odanak language classes, in order to speak well and bring these languages back to life. It is essential for me to recognize these two sides of myself, because they are what make me the person I am. I always introduce myself in my ancestral languages, but I also have a cell phone. I am on Twitter and Facebook. I think we can survive today by combining tradition and modernity and by being able to represent that mix. I think that is what will save us. I do this through ceremonies. I am constantly learning. It is essential for me to always go back to the source, because it is also easy to get lost in this whole wave. To leave and never come back; lose the thread. It is in these ways that I recognize myself.
[English]
Senator Doyle: It would certainly seem to me that the future of indigenous peoples is in very good hands with the impressive people that we have seen today.
Jennifer, if it was in your hands, what measures would you like to take to improve relations between indigenous and non-indigenous people?
[Translation]
Ms. O’Bomsawin: I think if I could do just one thing to begin, it would be to recognize Aboriginal peoples as nations, as human beings with the same rights as all other Canadians. That is the way to work nation to nation.
There are various commissions. Various recommendations have been made, including by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which listed ways to improve things. We must take stock of that and of all the work done; we must not forget it. We often tend to shelve commission reports; then their work is forgotten and we start over again. The process has to be started over again every time. We have to take stock of what has been done.
We also have to reach out to young people. I think Aboriginal youth are the key to success in a sense right now. I think we should ask them how they imagine Canada, and in what kind of Canada they would like to grow up. They will soon be taking centre stage. So we have to listen to them carefully, while reaching out to elders who have the experience of the past. In my opinion, that is the approach that could be taken.
As to the First Nations, we certainly need more MPs and senators from the First Nations who can champion our interests. We need people who can represent and understand us. That is always essential.
[English]
The Chair: Senators, we’ll only have time for two questions for each representative, so we will now move on to Stephen Puskas.
Stephen Puskas, as an individual: My name is Stephen Agluvak Puskas, from Yellowknife. My mother’s side of the family is from the Kivalliq region in Nunavut -- Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove -- and I’ve been living in Montreal for about the past nine years.
When it comes to my recent achievements, I’ve worked in research for Nunalijjuaq. It was a research project asking the question why Montreal is so different compared to Ottawa. The two cities are so close to each other, but for the Inuit communities, they’re so different, where Ottawa has so much whereas Montreal has had so little.
From there, I did research and an internship at the Museum of History. I spent two months researching indigenous creation stories across Canada for the new Canadian History Hall, and I have done other research projects there as well, all around researching my cultural heritage and my history.
When I came back to Montreal, I helped start up the first Inuit community radio show in southern Canada called Nipivut, which means “Our Voice” in Inuktitut.
After that, I had the opportunity to speak publicly about many things that I have seen happening in the South. Where I come from in the North, I would see indigenous businesses, indigenous politicians and leaders, but when I came down south to Montreal, I would see a lot of indigenous or, in this case, Inuit identity used by non-Inuit for a corporate identity.
I started speaking out about a lot of these things and people started listening. From there, I was able to have public discussions and talk in universities and schools about raising cultural awareness about Inuit in Montreal. Then I got the opportunity to co-curate the first Inuit film festival in southern Canada, in Montreal, called Tillutarniit.
Since then, I have done an internship in CBC and I have been writing stories. I have been interested in stories about indigenous representation from non-indigenous storytellers. We are surrounded by art, and this art and these symbols tell us stories and symbolize where we come from, who we are, what we believe in and what we value. These stories are also used to educate ourselves. They are sometimes used to try to explain what we don’t know.
I think right now, when it comes to reconciliation between Canada and indigenous people, it’s very important to try to look at the ethics of telling indigenous stories from non-indigenous storytellers, because there are a lot of indigenous stories being told that are being publicly funded while the people these stories come from are not being funded.
That’s basically my message right now.
The Chair: Thank you, Stephen.
Senator Enverga: Thank you for being here today. We are impressed with your credentials and those of all the students here.
I understand that you are more into film and the arts and that you want to tell a story. With all your experiences and all the things you’ve done, where do you see your community right now? How would you, let’s say, end your story? Where do you want to end it? What kind of story do you want to present to the whole nation?
Mr. Puskas: When it comes to my community, I really would rather try to provide a voice for my community to tell their own story, because I have not been elected or selected to represent them. I often say that I’m only here representing myself. I think in a lot of the work I’ve done, like with Nipivut, it’s more important for me to try to provide an opportunity for other Inuit in the community to have a space and opportunity where they can tell their own stories.
I also recently made a film called Ukiuktaqtumi, which means “In the North,” and in it I took videos from social media and YouTube of Inuit and I have gotten permission to use their videos. It is more of a film about Inuit self-representation. I first showed the film to the Inuit who provided the videos and asked them for permission and if this was all right.
When it comes to telling the story of the community I come from, I think it’s much more important for me to provide the opportunity in a space for the community itself to tell its own story.
Senator Christmas: Thank you, Stephen.
Over lunch we had a very interesting conversation about Stephen’s career in the film-making business, and I was quite struck by your comments about how there are films out there today that are not authentic in terms of portraying the Inuit community.
Mr. Puskas: Yes.
Senator Christmas: Could you describe why you felt some of those films were not authentic? What can be done in the future to make sure the authentic story of the Inuit is told in Canada?
Mr. Puskas: I think a lot of these stories are not authentic because they don’t include Inuit as decision makers or in any part of the creative process. There’s a film that came out recently and has been winning awards this past year called Living With Giants, and they have the young Inuk man wearing a wolf mask. I interviewed the directors and they said it was their idea to make this wolf mask and to have him wear it. These directors are not Inuit and not indigenous, and they come from the South.
They use that as a poster, basically, for the movie, and they use it as a way to foreshadow his suicide.
I think it’s very important to have Inuit involved in a lot of these decision-making processes when a lot of these films get public funding and are being made, and not just to get approval at the final stages when the film is already done.
I’ve also been a mentor at a film festival in Montreal called RIDM, where I had a talk with nine filmmakers; eight were non-indigenous and all of them were making films about indigenous people. I was talking to them about the ethics of telling stories that do not come from your own community.
I think there are a lot of films out there being made. Not just films, but art. Right now in Ottawa, the largest mural being put up right now represents Inuit, and it’s made by non-Inuit artists. I think that would be a great embarrassment for the capital of Canada to have the largest art piece here in this city be a stereotypical depiction of Inuit made by non-Inuit and without Inuit consultation.
Perry Kootenhayoo, as an individual: Good evening, everyone. My name is Perry Kootenhayoo. I am from Edmonton, Alberta. I do a lot of volunteer work, so some of my accomplishments earned provincial recognition in Alberta for the contributions that I’ve made.
Through Spinal Cord Injury Alberta, I have had the opportunity to deal with newly injured clients both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. While they’re still in rehabilitation in the hospital, I would go in and be somebody who could help them integrate themselves, not just physically and socially but also mentally, back into society. Doing that and helping them has also helped me grow as a person and allowed me to be here speaking with you guys today. That is how that has kind of shaped me.
As for where I see myself in 20 years, I believe — and I honestly do believe when I say this — that I will be right where I have to be. I will be doing what I’m supposed to be doing, and what I’m doing here today is just helping me get there. This is a cornerstone for me, as a leader, to get where I need to be in the future.
I believe that some of those steps toward the reconciliation between the government and our people would be to also provide programs on the mental health side of things, where people can adjust from the wave of the history that has happened to my people, not just to the individuals, where they were the ones who were affected by it, but their children and their children’s children. They are still feeling the ripple from these traumatic events in the past.
As for the history of it, I feel that it could be integrated into our educational system on a national level, where everybody is taught the history, and it’s not looked down upon nor thrown into shade in any way or form. It’s taught so that it’s a lesson and that it may never be repeated again. That’s how I feel about that.
I don’t have too much to say. I’ll just open the floor for questions.
The Chair: Thank you.
Senator Raine, did you have a question?
Senator Raine: Yes. Thank you very much.
I truly appreciate what you’re doing with victims of accidents because, in those first few weeks after you have had a really bad injury and your whole life is changing, for somebody to be there and hold out that hope to them is so important.
Could you talk to me about how you grew to find that hope and how you now can see yourself as someone who can spread hope, not just for people who have suffered spinal cord injury, for example, but for people who have suffered generally?
Mr. Kootenhayoo: On how I find hope, when I was first injured, and in general life, it wasn’t brought to me a lot, so I didn’t have the type of services that I’m helping others with. So I find that, if I can provide to those people and they don’t have to go through the mental stuff that I’ve gone through, by doing that, I hope to give them hope. But they also give me hope that they can one day maybe go out and do the same thing as well.
The Chair: If I may ask you a question, in your work, do you find that your cultural background is an advantage to you in the work that you’re doing? Is there some benefit that helps you in connecting with other people?
Mr. Kootenhayoo: Yes, the cultural background, especially cultural stuff. Growing up, I wasn’t around my family a lot, so being taught the lesson of respect for one another, the sharing circle for directions, and using this to adapt to the workplace, and the ability to share with others, not from a lesson standpoint but through day-to-day activities, is what helped me personally. That’s what shaped me, through the culture.
Senator Patterson: I’d like to know more about your ideas about providing support for the ripple of past trauma, as you described it. Are you suggesting that there are a lot of people who have gone through, say, the residential school history who could benefit from mental health services? How would you see that happening?
Mr. Kootenhayoo: Providing them with supports. They have their process of grieving. Maybe they’re not being guided properly, and the grief itself is not being dealt with. In the community that I’m from, I see a lot of it passed down, some of it through negative influences, addictions. Those addictions are then passed on just because the youth are seeing them growing up and think this is what’s normal. But if we can stop it where it started and help those deal with it from the beginning, then they themselves can show that the younger generations do have a chance to change.
Senator Sinclair: My question goes back to the issue Senator Dyck raised, and that is the importance of culture and your understanding of culture. I wonder if you might share with us your experience with regard to the importance of culture for those you work with and help.
Mr. Kootenhayoo: For some of them, when they’re first injured, the cultural side of the aspect, especially for Aboriginals, in that setting, it goes out the window for them at first because they’re going through a lot at that time. But if I can slowly help them integrate it back into their daily lives, cultural support in itself, spiritually, will brighten anyone’s day. You’re feeling down; you say a prayer. You do what you can. If in general that little help that I can give to them is enough to push them through the day, then that’s the way I like to see things.
Senator Sinclair: Do you think enough support is provided to programs that you might work with or to you or to others to do that kind of work?
Mr. Kootenhayoo: There could always be more, but, at the same time, there could always be less. Everything is perspective, right? Of course, you can say that there would be a need for more of an influence through other communities and help by the government. At the same time, like I said, it could not be there at all.
The Chair: Thank you, Perry.
We’ll now move on to our fourth youth leader, Holly Sock.
While we do that, I would like to say welcome to Senator Omidvar, who came in a little bit after we did our introductions. We’re pleased that you’re here.
You have the floor, Holly.
Holly Sock, as an individual: I’m Holly Sock. I’m from Elsipogtog First Nation, in New Brunswick. I’m 26 years old. I’m currently working out of Tobique First Nation.
My achievements: When I was 14 years old, I was given a task to create a nursery rhyme CD in my language, which is the Mi’kmaq language. Back then, it was just a small gesture. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. It was just me doing something for the younger kids, which was something I enjoyed doing, to be with the younger kids. I didn’t think it would have the impact it has today.
Knowing that I can continue to teach our language through song is something that I take a lot of pride in, and it’s something that will go on if it’s been going on for this long. That CD is still being made and sold. I take no profit from that. The profit goes right back into the Head Start, the daycares, to have the toys, the playgrounds, the snacks that they need for some of these kids who might not have the money to come in with such things as snacks. It made me realize how important it is to give back to my community as much as I can and to continue to be a role model to a child who needs you the most.
Something else that I take a lot of pride in is that I was the first female to go out of my community and join the RCMP. I hope to inspire more young women, not only from Elsipogtog but from Tobique and other First Nations communities in New Brunswick, to join and to take that leap to have such a great career, because it really is. I really enjoy my job.
Some of the barriers I had to overcome: I’m a very shy person. I don’t know if you guys can tell in my voice, but I am a very shy person. That’s something that I had to beat, to take any opportunity provided to me, and I did that by coming here. Something that I try to teach a lot of the younger youth in my community is to go out and go for it, because our community is so small. The world is so big, and it has so many career paths that they can go out and become so good at. You don’t know until you try.
I didn’t know how to read in my language when I first took on the task of making this CD. I had no clue. My mom had no clue. It was something that we did together. It took me a whole summer to make that CD. To sit down and to be able to teach myself how to read in my language is spectacular now, because I had no clue.
I always tell the youth to go out and try, even something as small as finishing high school. Let’s look at finishing high school. You did that? All right. Let’s try for university. You don’t know what you’re going to get into when you get there. You don’t know what you’re going to like and what you’re going to be good at. You might go in thinking you want to be a psychologist. You might turn around and be such a scholar in anthropology and thrive to be an anthropologist. That’s something I try to teach youth as much as possible, whether it be in Elsipogtog or Tobique.
Where do I see myself in 20 years? I hope to have made a small impact in every community that I’ve decided to police in. When I talk to people, it’s funny because they will call me Officer Sock. I say, “No, no. My name is Holly. I’m not the police. I’m a police officer.” I try to put myself at their level, to make me seem beyond the uniform so that I’m not just the word across my chest.
I hope to be a staff sergeant and to join identification services. I don’t know where I’ll be or where I’ll live, but I hope to have seen a lot of First Nation communities. I hope to make a small impact on every single one of them, whether it be with youth, with elders or with single mothers. I hope people see beyond the police sign.
My culture is my backbone. I was raised in a very traditional family. It’s something that I take a lot of pride in. Being clean and sober is something that I’m proud of. To be raised in a family that has been clean and sober my whole life is amazing. I thank my mom for that.
Without my culture, I’d be lost. My faith in a higher power, my faith in the Creator, beyond mankind, is what keeps me grounded. If they knew how many times I prayed before putting sage into my work boots each and every shift, just so that I can keep my spirit positive and keep it from being tainted, from what I’m about to see during the day, they’d be surprised.
With training, I can’t count how many times I’ve reached into my pocket and grabbed that piece of sage and smelled it just to calm myself down. I don’t know what I would do without that kind of belief; I really don’t. I take a lot of pride in my culture.
To me, a new relationship between indigenous people in Canada means to be able to walk alongside each other in balance. There’s inequity. It’s not Canada with indigenous people; it’s not indigenous people with Canada. It’s Canada and indigenous people working together in a positive way, in a good way, for everyone.
Education is something that was brought up to me with the youth earlier today. It amazed me how little Canada knew about indigenous people, the amount people knew about our culture and how proud people are to be who we are today.
I think I’ll open the floor for any questions.
The Chair: Thank you.
Senator Sinclair: I hope I don’t embarrass you with this question.
Ms. Sock: I’ll try not to be embarrassed.
Senator Sinclair: I’d like to ask you to sing us one of your songs.
Ms. Sock: I can. Just a small verse?
Senator Sinclair: Whatever you want to give us.
Ms. Sock: All right. I’ll sing this one. I have to do a little introduction to it, because it’s very important.
It was written by a woman who taught me as a child and she has passed now. She wrote a song, didn’t really tell anybody about it and stuffed it away into this folder that was handed to me when I was 14 years old. I came across it and I thought it was the most beautiful thing ever. Some amazing people came together and put the music behind it. I’m forever grateful for that. This is called —
[Editor's Note: The witness sang in her Native language.]
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
Senator Sinclair: Everybody who is following you now is thinking: Why did she not go last?
Thank you very much. That was beautiful.
The Chair: Thank you. That was beautiful.
Senator McPhedran: In keeping with the healing quality of what you’ve just shared with us, Holly, I’m not going to ask for any negative impressions of your work. However, based on your experience and your work, you’ll be well aware of many of the concerns that women associated with the RCMP have had. When you’re putting the sage in your boots and you’re keeping yourself in a positive place, if you were to give one piecer of advice for the force more generally in relation to the women working in the force, would you have any positive suggestion?
Ms. Sock: I think it would just be to remember to respect yourself as a woman. We go in for training. We’re all built like machines there, like the Mountie factory, but we come out and we still have our own values and beliefs. It’s important for us to be able to hang on to those and to remember who you are and where you come from when you’re in that kind of workplace.
Senator Enverga: I was hoping for you to sing us another song. People must be thinking you are in the wrong job; you should be somewhere in the limelight.
You’re in law enforcement. How do you see the youth? We heard many things about youth suicide. Have you dealt with that? What can you say to other youth who are thinking of doing the same thing? Do you have advice for them?
Ms. Sock: I did work with youth before I left for training. I worked with youth who were dealing with mental health issues, specifically suicide. I would just give them hope and tell them to go out and try for it. I would try to keep them in a safe space and remind them that it’s just a bad day, not a bad life.
I know law enforcement isn’t for everybody, and I don’t try to force it on anyone. If it was something that they were thinking about, I am open to talking freely with them to remind them about how important it is that you’re ready to take on the mental challenges that you may be faced with and how I keep myself grounded in those situations. I try to be a positive role model that they might need, whether they want to be RCMP officers or not.
I’m not sure I answered your question.
Senator Enverga: Thank you.
The Chair: Thank you, Holly. Thank you for that beautiful song. For someone who is shy, you know how to belt it out beautifully.
We will now move on to our next presenter, Modeste McKenzie.
Modeste McKenzie, as an individual: Good evening. That is going to be a tough act to follow. I am a dancer, however, and I will happily jump on the table and do a jig for you if you want. I'm just kidding.
Senator Pate: I think Senator Sinclair can sing very well, too.
Senator Sinclair: I have some tunes on my iPhone.
Mr. McKenzie: I want to thank the senators, madam chair, for having me here today. It is truly an honour. I want to thank all of my peers as well. To even be considered as in the same calibre is really an honour. I’ve enjoyed spending the day with you, learning with you all and talking with you.
I’m 22 years old. I am from the Deninu K'ue First Nation, Northwest Territories. My father was taken from his family in the early 1970s, and he was raised by my other grandmother and my other grandfather in Montreal. He was a 1970s Scoop baby. My mother is from Cumberland House and she is Metis.
My parents met in Winnipeg at a theatre company called Red Roots, I believe. My mother moved to Regina and that was where I was born. That’s where I spent the first seven years of my life.
My family did experience some hardships while in Regina trying to escape poverty. One of my siblings went missing in Regina. Fortunately, we found my sibling, but I remember being very young and putting up missing signs around Regina. I don’t talk about that much, but that’s something that was really hard.
After that, I moved to La Ronge, and I spent the next six years of my life there. I met some great friends, great elders and great mentors. After that I moved to Rosthern. That’s where my mother got a job working for Batoche National Historic Site and I truly came in touch with my Metis side and my dancing.
That’s where I met elder Maria Campbell. She mentored me for three summers and still continues to do so once in a while. Growing up around artists, Kim Anderson, Christi Bellcourt and Neal McLeod, their passions were naturally passed on to me.
I would like to backtrack a little bit. Batoche is where I truly came in touch with my culture. That’s when I started learning about my ancestry, about the 1885 resistance, about Almighty Voice, about Louis Riel, about Gabriel Dumont. That has inspired me to this day, knowing that they’re rooting for me, that they fought for me. I will continue to do so for the unborn.
That’s a bit about how I am.
Currently I am a youth support worker with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. As some of you are aware, back in October the Lac La Ronge Indian Band went through a suicide crisis. Four young girls between the ages of 10 and 14 committed suicide. To the best of my knowledge, there were at least 17 more attempts within the community that month. Shortly after, I was hired.
What motivates me is that three weeks after that crisis, where those four young girls took their lives, I had a child born. Her name is Natalia. That is what really put things into perspective for me. That made me go “Holy cow, I am not just fighting for myself and my peers but for my young child.”
In terms of reconciliation, what I would like to see is education. It is the most important thing. There are a couple of elementary schools in my tri-community area. If you drew a line between one and the other, there would probably be about three kilometres. You would have to go through some bush. The kids on-reserve get 40 per cent less than the kids in the village. Why would they and my daughter get 40 per cent less than those kids who are only a few kilometres away? It’s because they’re First Nations and they’re indigenous. They’re Indians.
That’s my motivation, working with those children. This past winter and spring, I had the pleasure and the opportunity to bring my skills and talents to youth. I got to form a little square dance group. It was a lot of fun. That would be one thing.
I touched on this a little bit earlier with some senators, which is the inclusion of First Peoples in the economy, in the development of our own economies; something that is not based on resource extraction; something where we’re not damaging our lands, not harming our fish, our waters and the plants. That’s a big thing with me.
Part of that ties in with education. In order to have a robust and diversified economy, we need education. It is absolutely key and critical.
Also, increased mental health services and better partnerships. Provinces need to work with individual nations. The federal government needs to step up and do more.
It just blows my mind how far some of our youth have to go to get the proper services and how far some of our elders have to go to get some basic services.
Those roads up there aren’t the best. We have big trucks hauling uranium from northern Saskatchewan down south. They really tear up the roads. I think examining those corporations that are operating and generating profits from our territories and making sure they’re paying their fair share is important. I can think of one company in particular in the territory that I work in that does not.
Further down the road, I would like to see the development of our own economies. In 20 years, where do I see myself sitting? Hopefully amongst you or in the other house. Right now my main focus is the youth — nurturing, listening and advocating any time I can.
The Chair: Thank you, Modeste.
I’m from Saskatchewan. Lac La Ronge First Nation is a fairly prosperous First Nation, is it not? You were talking about the development of economies and how that is important, yet economies that are environmentally friendly.
Mr. McKenzie: Lac La Ronge is very successful, but there are other communities in northern Saskatchewan. There are Dene, Wollaston, Fond du Lac and Black Lake. Those are very isolated communities, unemployment, even in La Ronge, too. Even down south, it’s not where it should be. When you compare it to the national average, it’s not where it should be.
What was the other part of the question?
The Chair: In terms of developing economies. Now you’ve mentioned more isolated, remote communities. How do you envision those communities becoming more self-reliant given that they are remote and isolated? Do you have some insights into that?
Mr. McKenzie: Absolutely.
La Ronge had this great program called NORTEP. It’s shut down now.
The Chair: That’s right.
Mr. McKenzie: If you lived in northern Saskatchewan for half your life or 10 years, regardless of your ethnicity or if you were status or not, Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal, you got to go to the school for free. The idea behind the program was to improve retention rates in regards to teachers. Education would probably be the big one.
That’s a hard question and a good one and it’s going to take a lot of thought, but education would be the main component for now. That’s the first step in that direction for me.
The Chair: Any specific recommendation? This committee has studied education in the past, and we did a report on the funding. We recognize the funding you mention is a real problem. If you were in charge, what would you do to rectify that?
Mr. McKenzie: Equal or equitable, just close the gap and focus on post-secondary institutions like NORTEP. It was a great program. Ninety-five per cent of the graduates from NORTEP, or 94 per cent — it was very high — stayed in northern Saskatchewan or went back to their communities. Those are good-paying jobs, and that’s what we need up there.
Senator McPhedran: You talked about a very successful program. A lot of the testimony we receive here gives us very inspiring examples with excellent results, and then we find out they’ve been shut down. What is your sense of why that happened with this very successful program?
Mr. McKenzie: As you know, the province of Saskatchewan is going through some difficult times economically; we’re not doing very well. The reason given by the provincial government is that they needed to cut administration costs.
This is something I was very active in. I was a community organizer. I worked with the student council and teachers in advocating and fighting for NORTEP, participating in sit-ins and protests. But that only saved $500,000.
The program is still alive. All of the other post-secondary institutions in the province were able to put a bid in or an application to amalgamate with this program. The organization that got it didn’t even put an application in. I don’t know what happened there. Cutting the administrative costs was about $500,000 in savings, kind of a drop in the bucket, if you ask me.
Senator McPhedran: Are you saying that even though there is a vestige of this program continues, the heart of the program that was producing the excellent results is gone?
Mr. McKenzie: Yes. The things that made NORTEP special no longer exist. The tuition was paid for. With the new organization, that’s not happening. The books were paid for; they’re no longer paid for by this new organization.
NORTEP had excellent housing. If you had children and you lived in the Far North -- school is very difficult. It’s very difficult to move from Wollaston, for instance, all the way down to Saskatoon and support yourself and your kids. NORTEP could almost guarantee you a spot. Also, I forgot to mention they had bursaries, too. I think it was $700 a month. That helped the students make it through those cold winters.
Senator Patterson: This is not an easy question, but I would like you to share your experience working with the kids following the tragedies there. What drives those young kids to despair? Were you able to help? What do they need?
Mr. McKenzie: That’s a great question. What drives them to despair? Nobody knows. We have an idea, but could we put our finger on it and say this is the problem? It’s a lot of things. It’s poverty, addictions, and sometimes it’s a social thing. Suicide pacts are common and do happen.
Never in my life have I met such amazing, resilient, smart, kind and creative youth. The youth I work with are amazing.
We didn’t necessarily force the conversation of bullying or suicide, but we let them come to us. We try to bring positivity to the situation through hand games, a New Year’s Eve dry dance or through traditional teachings. That’s essentially my experience.
The Chair: Senators, we will now suspend for five minutes. During the break, we’ll have an official photograph taken with the youth representatives and senators. Thank you.
(The committee suspended.)
(The committee resumed.)
The Chair: We will continue with the next four youth leaders on our special evening tonight. First up we have Jacquelyn Cardinal.
Jacquelyn Cardinal, as an individual: Thank you very much. I prepared a statement just to try to make the most of my time here. I travelled all the way from Edmonton.
I bring greetings from Treaty 6 territory, the lands on which I live today and am a guest, as well as from the Sucker Creek Cree First Nation on Treaty 8 territory, which is the traditional home of my people, the sakâwiyiniwak.
I thank you for having me here today as a voice of indigenous youth and of the future, speaking to the topic that has brought us all together. How can we imagine this new relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples, which, from my vantage point as a young person, is one of the most important questions facing all Canadians today.
I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathering on the traditional unceded lands of the Algonquin Nation, a very special place with deep roots. I am thankful and humbled to be here.
Not long ago, I received a teaching about the story of creation and how it is based on the idea of infinity: that by definition, the creation of our world has never stopped and that we are all a part of it even now; that everyone, including myself, exist in an unbroken chain with all those who came before us and with all those yet to arrive.
As an indigenous youth who grew up in the city, like so many indigenous youth do these days, receiving this teaching was as if I had been given two things I had been craving all my life without realizing it: one, a reminder that, though I walk on the concrete of the city of Edmonton, far from my traditional lands and long after many of my people have gone on to the other side, and though many of my people who are left behind now are walking wounded, I am not alone; and, two, a call to action because with that belonging, that understanding, that strength, comes a responsibility of carrying on the vision of my ancestors, as well as preparing for my descendants.
So now I have what I’m sure is a natural question for someone at the age of 26: What do I do with that? To answer this question in front of me, I look behind me. Since time immemorial, my people have been governed by our natural law, wahkohtowin. In English, it means “relationship.” Our elders saw the vital importance of maintaining a healthy and prosperous relationship with our way of life, self, community and environment, and they use wahkohtowin as a major guiding principle for maintaining a coexistence, allowing them to thrive.
Our relatives out East use a similar guiding principle, the two-row wampum belt. This is known as one of the oldest agreements made between indigenous and non-indigenous nations, and this was represented by two rows of purple beads signalling the courses of two vessels, indigenous and non-indigenous, travelling down the river of life together, parallel but never touching, in mutual respect and sovereignty. My ancestor, Mostos, a key leader during the negotiations of Treaty 8, applied his understanding of wahkohtowin in his time as well. He famously said:
I see the white man coming in, and I want to be friends. I see what he does, but it is best that we should be friends.
We are all treaty people, and we all have responsibilities to maintain our wahkohtowin with each other. In implementing that idea, my brother and business partner, Hunter Cardinal, and I have embarked on creating, as part of our corporate social responsibility for our company, Naheyawin, what we’re calling treaty projects. These projects are our opportunity to fulfill our obligations as Canadians and treaty people, through applying governance principles to our systems today, in order to restore, regenerate and reinvigorate what has been damaged. This is how we build the future: a parallel, sustainable and healthy relationship with our non-indigenous partners.
So this resurgence of an older connectedness and specific parallel relationship is important in understanding our future as indigenous and non-indigenous treaty people. There are two entities that are in a relationship, and in order for that relationship to be vitalized and as authentic as it can be, we need to ensure that we are allowing the other entity to be vitalized in their own recognition of their separate self, their values and their culture.
Through self-recognition and a celebration of that uniqueness, we find strength and a capacity to ensure that our relationship goes forward in prosperity and perpetuity. As bell hooks points out, we need to stop being so preoccupied with looking to that “other” for recognition. Instead, we should be recognizing ourselves and then seeking to make contact with all of those who would engage us in a constructive manner.
These treaty projects, like all of our work at Naheyawin, starts with an assets-based approach. We look at what we already have in terms of knowledge, skills and lived experience and go from there. As the owner and operator of a digital marketing and engagement agency, my skills are in communications and technology. I have trained in modular design, systems thinking and user experience principles, as well as programming and graphic design, and I have the great privilege of having been born with a natural affinity for and love of technology and the opportunity to explore it.
Coupled with my brother’s honed skills as an artist and an actor in deep empathy and pursuit of truth, our skill sets combine not only provide our client base with unique digital services that enable us to pay our expenses but to invest surplus time and resources to see, think, organize and act on what we believe our obligations are, not only as indigenous peoples in a pivotal time in our history but as treaty people in a pivotal time in Canadian and world history.
To illustrate this, I would like to give an overview of one of the treaty projects that we are actively developing at this time, which Senator Sinclair mentioned during our visit to the Senate Chamber this afternoon. I had the amazing opportunity to visit the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock last December. I was impacted deeply from that experience, but what struck me the deepest was the way that the Standing Rock Sioux accepted the allies that arrived, took mindful steps to teach us enough to help us to respect their traditions and then gave us work to do. Many people remarked that you couldn’t actually understand what the entire movement was about unless you had worked in the kitchens.
So the Sioux made clear to all of us allies that had arrived that this was their struggle but that they would create a place where we could help them. When I came home, my brother and I developed an initiative called Tatawaw, which means, “welcome; there is room,” in Cree, and seeks to do exactly that in everyday life — welcome all of us in, indigenous, settlers and newcomers alike, and provide information and encouragement to learn so that everyone can move forward together in wahkohtowin and provide practical jobs for allies to do, to provide a rallying point.
We have been humbled by the response from our community, who have taken this idea and run with it, demonstrating an enthusiasm and deep sense of ownership by indigenous and non-indigenous peoples alike across industries.
Success with Tatawaw has inspired us to develop other initiatives, ranging from improving indigenous people’s presence in the tech sector to creating podcast series that share the stories of other indigenous peoples and allies about how they meet the challenges of our time, as well as others.
What is this new relationship? We believe that the way forward is not necessarily in creating something wholly new but in reinvigorating the original spirit of the peace and friendship agreed upon during the negotiation of our treaties and using all tools available to help us get there. When we do this, we will become the Canada we were always meant to be, side by side.
If I were to make one ask of all those gathered here today, it would be to please take steps to support grassroots community initiatives that come from a place of encouraging recognition and engagement with who we are as treaty people and our obligations to ourselves, community and environment.
If I were to make a second, it would be to encourage us all to remind ourselves and those who surround us that we are all a part of the concept of infinity, and that each of us is powerful and important and holds a unique role in the continued great unfolding of our world.
The Chair: Thank you very much, Jacquelyn.
Senator Pate: If you had another ask, what would it be?
Ms. Cardinal: Honestly, probably more funding towards actually increasing indigenous people’s presence in the tech sector. As a woman in the tech sector, it’s already a struggle. As an indigenous woman in the tech sector, I typically am the only indigenous person I come across. The tech sector is the fastest-growing sector in the Canadian economy, and it’s actually in line with other trades. When you seek out these trades, they are very much like any other trade, very much like welding or anything like that. It takes a very short amount of time, and you can immediately be of use.
One of our initiatives, which I mentioned briefly, is an alliance of technical colleges, agencies in our city and tech companies who are really inspired by the idea of not only finding untapped labour resources locally, which is a really big problem, but also of injecting a really interesting perspective that indigenous people would be able to bring to the table whenever we’re approaching any problem. In the creative industry, which is what tech really is, as we’re solving problems, the more perspectives you have at the table, the better the solution.
We’re having a lot of seats empty at this particular table, and it’s important not only to develop a diverse economy but also to make sure that we’re solving these problems the best we can.
Senator Pate: You inspired me to ask that question. The question I wanted to ask you, because it was really exciting to hear what you’re describing, if you were designing tech support — and I’m a techno twit, so bear that in mind — what would you do? How would you invigorate the nation-to-nation process that this committee is involved with and that the Senate is involved with?
Ms. Cardinal: With utilizing technology?
Senator Pate: Yes.
Ms. Cardinal: This is where my roots show as an indigenous person. On the surface, I’m very much a technophile, and I’m really into that stuff. But, at the base of things, I believe that modern technology is really like any other tool. It’s a new tool that can be used for bad; it can be used for good. I think we see a lot of both. I think that we need to not only understand that there is a downside but understand that we haven’t really utilized these tools yet in a good way.
It’s a fairly tough question, but because I’m steeped in this industry every day, it’s interesting to be able to look at the landscape and fully imagine what the world is going to be like in 10 years and think, “We’re not ready yet, and there’s so much promise if we can prepare and, like Wayne Gretzky, go to where the puck is going, really get ready for it, staying there despite knowing that it’s moving.”
Senator Tannas: Thank you for being here, Jacquelyn. I’m from Alberta as well, southern Alberta. I want to ask you something as we try to figure out what the future looks like. We know where we are, and we want to figure out what needs to happen in order to get to the future.
I’d like to ask you about something that’s not clear to me, especially because you come from a creative business and a logical business. In the perfect future, how does a new, fully funded and powered indigenous government touch you and your descendants and people like you who are continuing to move to metropolitan markets or metropolitan settlements, and not assimilate, but integrate within that environment? How do you see that government touching you and your children, specifically? What would you be looking to them to provide?
Ms. Cardinal: That’s really tough. First, Edmonton is situated in an area that was known as the waiting place. There have been many people, as well as my ancestors, gathering there forever. We’ve always been there. It’s actually natural for us to be in that space.
That said, it’s really tough to fully imagine the future. You’re totally correct; it is a very creative industry, as well as logical. The unfortunate thing is that, though design is about solving problems and art is about asking new ones, when you think about solving problems in general, you have to take your tools and your processes and hold on to them and go into the abyss with them. I feel like if we take these tools of consultation and of building relationships — these really old ideas based on treaty — then we can move forward in a good way and then get to a future that we will be prepared for because we left in a good way and in the right direction.
I have little patience; even for a young person, I like things now. I like to know where I’m going and when I’m going to get there, and if I’m going to have time to have a snack and that kind of stuff. I really think it’s important to be able to trust in that.
As well, I really believe in the seven generations idea and thinking. Any future that we would be moving towards is not something I’ll ever see. I put my stock into making sure that I’m making good decisions now to be able to make that happen in the future.
Senator Tannas: That’s fair enough. You will conduct yourself as you will conduct yourself, and the future will unfold as it should. Is that right?
Ms. Cardinal: Yes. That sounds weirdly optimistic, even for me. However, I really believe in the future and how a future government will interact with us. I do think a lot of it lies in technology. It is interesting, especially in my industry, as I build my company, to see how indigenous governance principles find themselves by different names, such as rotational leadership models of what would happen if you were to go on a hunt. How you would organize involves agile methodologies in the tech industry, or flat hierarchies. It’s fascinating to see that happen.
I don’t know if I answered your question, but you can see a bit of a return to these old ways of imagining and of organizing ourselves. I think it’s going to look pretty similar to how it used to be, returning to smaller groups of people and somehow utilizing the technologies that we have to be able to do that. It will be interesting at the very least. I’m excited.
Senator Christmas: My question is still percolating, so bear with me for a minute. I find it very interesting that you have embraced technology, and yet you are firmly rooted in your culture, your tradition and your own teachings.
As we struggle as senators to try to find what that nation-to-nation relationship will look like, one thing that we have overlooked — and you have reminded me and reminded us today — is that to achieve that, we have to understand the roots of indigenous people, and that it is based on indigenous law. You called it wahkohtowin.
Ms. Cardinal: Yes.
Senator Christmas: If Canadians were able to understand how indigenous people respect and honour their ancient laws that have been here for centuries, how important do you think the natural law of indigenous people is when it comes to re-establishing that nation-to-nation relationship?
Ms. Cardinal: I studied science in school, so I’m a really big fan of reasoning from first principles. I think that instead of analogously. You think about things. You go back to what you know to be true and then you reason from there, as opposed to thinking, “This worked here, so it will probably work here.” You test it that way.
If you’re looking at how to solve the contemporary issue, returning to these basic principles of indigenous ways of building relationships and indigenous natural law, I think it’s a fantastic place to start. It’s the frustrating thing of returning to these basic ideas.
What I think is fascinating and shows the wisdom of our ancestors is that these laws apply no matter the time and no matter what happens. They’re guiding principles that apply no matter the actual dynamic environment that it’s being put upon. It’s always relevant, which is great, because now I don’t have to think as much.
Senator Christmas: I think the beauty of that is that we’re uncovering an ancient wisdom. The Mi’kmaq had the same belief. We also envisioned a world where non-indigenous people would be part of it. This indigenous law, in my mind, is the key to developing or becoming the basis of that nation-to-nation concept.
That’s not a question. I’m thinking as I’m talking; I’m sorry.
Ms. Cardinal: I’m sure that I’m eating into everybody’s time. But what is fascinating, especially about the treaty projects we’re doing, is it’s not me, my brother and our indigenous friends pushing it forward on our own. Our allies want to be given jobs. They want to know about these natural laws that come from the place that they live. They feel untethered. There’s no reason why, in my mind, if we tell them our stories and we engage them and they want to engage with us in a respectful way, that that can’t happen.
I referred to Standing Rock in my statement. That shows people are willing to show up. It’s enough for them to show up, in my book. That’s when you start to build relationships. That’s how I like to think about that.
Senator Christmas: Thank you, Jacquelyn.
The Chair: Thank you, Jacquelyn.
We’ll now move on to Tiffany Monkman. The floor is yours wherever you’re ready.
Tiffany Monkman, as an individual: Good evening, everyone. I’m very honoured to be here. This isn’t something I’m used to. I’m usually in the position of nominating one of my students.
I’m a Metis woman, born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. My father grew up in Stony Point, Manitoba, and my mother grew up in Winnipeg. My parents just celebrated their thirty-fourth wedding anniversary. I have one younger brother TJ, whom I’ll speak about later.
My parents did have some financial challenges throughout our lives, but my parents made sure my brother and I were able to do at least one thing we loved, which for me was competitive swimming. I swam for 15 years, 6 of them with the University of Manitoba Bison swim team. My parents always identified as Metis but never taught me anything about our culture because, because for my parents growing up, it was taboo to talk about or even acknowledge you were a Metis. But we’ve always appreciated who we are.
My first awareness of my culture was at the 2002 North American Indigenous Games, where I competed in the sport of swimming. I remember standing on the pool deck and only seeing indigenous people in the lanes next to me and in the stands. I felt so connected with everyone around me. I felt a calmness and safeness that is sometimes unexplainable to others.
I was the first in my family to get a university degree, and I credit Aboriginal business education partners -- whom I work with today -- for helping me and encouraging me to get through and graduate with my Bachelor of Commerce and for helping me become more aware of my Metis roots. I have never felt such a connection and safety around people until I was interacting with people of my culture.
I speak about sport here today and in my bio, but it has shaped me into who I am today. Sport isn’t just a physical activity. It teaches individuals life lessons, and I bring that with me every time I speak and present with indigenous youth.
I want to touch on my brother TJ. After high school, my brother struggled a bit to find his passion, but one business course in college and a conversation with me put him on the road to a business degree. He graduated last year from the Asper School of Business and is now working in the accounting field and I could not be more proud. University was very difficult for me, but knowing it helped my younger brother brings me so much joy.
I bring this story with me when I present to high school indigenous students, as they may one day inspire a younger sibling or family member. It makes me so proud when I get to see one of my students graduate or when I see an indigenous youth become comfortable enough around me to show me their work. It makes me even more proud when a youth comes to university — and many do not know much about their culture — and thanks to the University of Manitoba students have the ability to learn about their culture.
In 2016, I was able to host a mock university class with an Asper School of Business professor where high school indigenous students from the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative attended. It was an honour to be able to provide an opportunity like this to these students.
The University of Manitoba took notice that a large portion of self-declared indigenous students at the University of Manitoba are Metis, so a group of us have come together to discuss ideas to better support Metis students.
The University of Manitoba and the Asper School of Business has grown so much over the past years welcoming the indigenous community. I cannot be prouder to be working with this organization.
When it comes to the study of the new relationship between Canada and indigenous people, one thing really stood out for me. We want to talk to people who are affected. Great things can come from this, such as: one, allowing indigenous people to feel welcomed and appreciated; and two, for other cultures to understand how to appreciate and interact with indigenous people.
I want to tell you a story about a time I took the bus home from work. I saw an indigenous woman get on the bus, and she started asking people where she should get off to reach her destination. Person after person ignored her and gave her unfortunate looks. She then moved to the other side of the bus, where I was, and I leaned into her and said, “Miss, you can get off on the second stop and you’ll reach your location.” She looked at me with the kindest eyes and said, “You know, you’re the only person who has ever had a conversation with me on the bus.” My heart dropped.
Still to this day indigenous people have to deal with this day in and day out. It needs to stop. This new study has the ability to give indigenous people the necessary platforms to speak and have round tables, as one example.
There is one thing I would recommend, which is to go to indigenous peoples’ communities as well. To be able to open the relationship with inviting them to Ottawa is great, but being able to share their stories on their land and communities will make them feel that much more comfortable.
You have to remember they are part of this relationship and Canada should partake in indigenous traditions of how they share stories. I know this study is going to give the chance for Canada to understand and to get information that they need, but this is a huge time for indigenous people as well, because it takes enormous strength for one to share their story, especially when there is trauma in it. For them to open up about what happened to them is an extremely significant step, and I’d like Canada to honour this and be extremely respectful.
I have not only experienced one trauma, but I have experienced two traumatic events in my life, and some days are extremely difficult dealing with triggers. I can imagine how difficult it is dealing with decades of trauma and how bad a trigger can be for an indigenous individual.
I know some Canadians ask, “What can we do to help?” I reply with this: Yes, we do not understand what it feels like to be in a residential school, but I’m going to sit here and listen because each and every one who has been affected deserves to be heard.
When these round tables do happen, I recommend there be some way for participants to decompress afterwards, whether there be therapists or counsellors on hand, because it can take a toll for someone to share their story. The reason why this section of the study sticks out for me is because this is the goal I want Canada to focus on, to hear indigenous people.
Throughout my career working with indigenous people in the financial industry and academia, I found a common theme: They want to be heard and understood. These people have experienced trauma and their flight or fight response is easily activated. I am here to show them that I am here to be with them and not to dictate to them.
When I left the bank to move on to working at the university, my clients thanked me for being an understanding banker. This is where I started to recognize I am interested in how to adapt to one’s communication style, especially people in my culture.
Everyone wants to make a difference, and I have found my one difference -- to help indigenous youth find their passion. Doing something small each day can be exactly what Canada needs. Be that person who speaks to the indigenous woman on the bus. I did and it forever changed my life.
Thank you for this opportunity.
The Chair: Thank you, Tiffany.
Senator Martin: Thank you, Tiffany. I missed the first part of the meeting. I’m not a regular member, but I feel, from hearing you and the previous witness, just how much wealth of information and passion you’re bringing to the table. I want to thank the committee for undertaking this study, as well as Senate Communications and what has happened throughout the day.
You said a few things that make me want to ask you more and find out more. When you talk about how sport was such an important anchor or a part of your identity and that helped you face all of the challenges in life, are there indigenous sports that could be — maybe it already is happening, but are there indigenous games on a national or regional level that would also be inviting to non-indigenous people and to showcase the athleticism as well as the culture?
Ms. Monkman: They try to have the North American Indigenous Games every four years. I attended back in 2002. They’re going to have it this summer as well.
When I first attended in 2002, I was extremely shocked as to how indigenous people came together to celebrate their passion, whether it be swimming, volleyball or basketball. I felt extremely honoured that people in my culture really appreciate what people’s passions are when they come together.
My younger brother played lacrosse. I really hope that that sport does get more national attention because of its indigenous roots. Those two things stick out for me while growing up.
Senator Martin: I was also identifying with you talking about owning your identity, and that that’s a very important foundation for one’s own pride and sense of belonging.
In terms of the proud history of the indigenous people, do you think there’s a way to ensure that some of the golden nuggets of information are better known by the indigenous youth as well as to Canadians? Do you think that would be a very important part of the nation-to-nation building in order to really understand the history from which you come?
Ms. Monkman: Hearing the certain things that people don’t know about the indigenous culture, it would be really nice — indigenous culture is so beautiful and indigenous people are so family oriented. For me, it’s small steps like having a conversation or bringing in other people from the university or alumni to talk to indigenous youth. I find I connect more and it really resonates with me more when I hear someone share their story. When I invite indigenous youth onto campus or when I go visit them at high schools, I make sure to share with them as many stories as I can. That’s when I really see them open up and become more comfortable. Whether we’re working on some sort of project, they become that more fascinated with it when they know there is a connection there.
Senator Martin: I just want to say that the sharing of the stories — beautiful, painful, powerful, all of them — that’s very important. You really hit on one of the key objectives of creating this relationship, which is to share those stories. Thank you so much for sharing yours.
Senator McPhedran: Hi Tiffany. I’m glad we had a chance to talk in the pub last night and to see you in this more formal setting.
You have shared with us that you were born and raised in Winnipeg. I was born and raised in rural Manitoba, so I actually don’t know the city of Winnipeg that well, but I wanted to ask you a question around my impression, having lived in the city now for the past eight years. My impression is that it is a dramatically divided city, with a north-south divide. I live on the north side, and it is generally considered to be the poor side, where there is a concentration of urban indigenous peoples living on the north side.
Having been born and raised in Winnipeg, as a young leader are you seeing any significant changes or shifts in the city and in the division of the city? If you are seeing something positive that’s more recent, how would you suggest building on that?
Ms. Monkman: To start off, I was getting a ride from my friend who lives in the south end of Winnipeg. I was getting a ride back with her brother to the north side of Winnipeg, where I live. He’s never been past downtown, so everything past downtown for him was scary. It was a complete shock because he lives in Winnipeg, and there’s more than just the south side. That was five-plus years ago.
Working at the Asper School of Business in the south end, and a lot of the students who live in the south end attend the Asper School of Business, I’ve seen baby steps, but it’s growth, which I like to see. There are professors who are incorporating indigenous content into the courses they teach. One of the student associations has put an indigenous seat on their council, and our students have been working years and years to put that on there. Our dean has been doing amazing work asking us what we can do. We actually agreed to host an indigenous workshop at the Asper School of Business for students and staff. My students were asked what it was like to be an indigenous student at the Asper School of Business.
Yes, it’s baby steps, but there is growth going on there. I’m very proud to be working in that area.
Moving forward, it’s just making sure to keep on pushing the limits, you could say.
It was very uncomfortable. You have to have uncomfortable conversations with people who don’t want to listen to you. It’s just how proud I am of my students, who keep on pushing. Things are moving. It’s not as fast as we want it to be, but it’s just having those conversations that are uncomfortable.
The Chair: Thank you, Tiffany.
We will now move on to our next youth leader.
Andrea Andersen, as an individual:
[Editor's Note: The witness spoke in her Native language.)
I would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation.
To the Aboriginal Peoples Committee of the Senate, we are here for one reason today, and that is to discuss this new relationship between the indigenous people and the rest of Canada.
First, I would like to applaud your reasoning for naming the study, as noted again that not all indigenous groups identify as a nation. When this government states this new “nation-to-nation” relationship, it does not identify to me as an Inuk.
Second, youth are excited. This is the first time the government is creating this new relationship, and you are asking for youth input. It is definitely in the direction of where we need to go.
When you take a look around this room, each person comes from a different background, whether it’s a different indigenous origin or being an ally, but we are here for one thing today: to help guide and bring a youthful voice to this topic. You have a year and a half left to tackle the remainder of the study. I don’t want to put any pressure on you, but I am very honoured to share my thoughts with you today.
I want to be very careful in what I say to you, as many of the urgent topics that I and many of us have noted to be important have already been highlighted last year, especially in regard to language retention, economic development, suicide prevention, creating mediums and platforms to express our ideas, and also the housing crisis in the North.
I am a physiotherapist by profession. After the session tonight, I’ll be doing some assessments over in this corner. I grew up in an isolated Inuit community in northern part of Labrador. I was known as the little girl who sat on every committee. I was bored, so I wanted to do something. There wasn’t much to do growing up.
Today, I represent urban indigenous youth through the Friendship Centre Movement. It is Canada’s most significant off-reserve indigenous service delivery infrastructure. There are 118 centres across Canada, and each centre is the primary provider of culturally enhanced programs and services to urban indigenous people. We facilitate the transition of people from rural, remote and reserve life to an urban environment. For many people, we are the first point of contact, either to obtain referrals for culturally based socio-economic programs or services.
I would like to spread light to the committee in regard to part (c) of the study on which areas the committee should look into. I know you are only on part (a), but I want to get you started thinking about what will need to come.
There are three things I would like to address. The first is the relationship with the federal government and current indigenous organizations; for example, the National Association of Friendship Centres. Friendship centres have a well-known history in Canada. We have been around for 60 years, and we provide many of the same services as you will find in either a land claim settlement area or on reserve.
It is known that more indigenous people are moving from rural areas to urban centres for various reasons. We help these people with that transition. However, in the government’s eyes, we are not treated the same as other indigenous organizations, such as AFN or ITK. We always get the recognition of the wonderful work that we do, but recognition is not what we need. We need more support. We have a huge, growing demand, yet we do not receive any infrastructure funding to meet this demand. It is very hard to service your people when the facilities that we provide these programs out of cannot keep up with the growing numbers.
The National Association of Friendship Centres and the Friendship Centre Movement is a grassroots movement, so we have an open door policy. We do not just service First Nations or Inuit or Metis. We service all indigenous groups and provide that cultural programming to all of them. So we would like to have the same access to funding resources as the other groups.
The second thing I would like to touch on is how natural resources are developed on our lands going forward. I know the Senate completed a study in the past around this topic, but I think it needs to be touched on in this study as well.
Now, we’re not fully anti-development, but when our resources are taken from our areas, it needs to be done in a way that is with indigenous people, for indigenous people and indigenous people need to benefit and the region needs to benefit as well. You also have to make sure that the environment is protected while doing so.
I like to use examples, and I want to give a current example of how this is currently not the case: Labrador, Nalcor and Muskrat Falls. There is a six-year opposition with the Inuit and Innu of Labrador where the federal and provincial governments have failed to promote these indigenous groups. Nalcor is a provincial Crown energy corporation in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. One of its businesses is the Lower Churchill Project, which will produce hydroelectric energy. One of their instalments is Muskrat Falls.
This project is a complete mess, and it does make me angry. I need you to understand that it is 2017, and from this project, in just the past month — not something that happened six months ago — we have had a Labrador community evacuated due to flooding from this hydroelectric project. We have an Inuk grandmother by the name of Beatrice Hunter. She has been placed in a men’s correctional facility in St. John’s, going on 10 days. She has her hearing this coming Friday, but political leaders in our province are saying they cannot intervene with the justice system. And this is because she stated to the Supreme Court that she might not be able to stay 1 kilometre away from the Muskrat Falls site.
How is this creating a better relationship with indigenous people? You are putting people in jail and having these communities evacuated.
When this project started, there were no community consultations, no consultations with indigenous leaders. Until recently, last fall, three people had to go on a hunger strike before the provincial government decided to listen to the people of Labrador and to know that we are actually concerned about this project.
Canada is so rich in its natural resources, but if it were up to the indigenous people of any part of Canada, I don’t think we would have these corporations in our backyard, preventing our animals from growing and preventing us from practising our rights to live on our land. It just would not pass. But unfortunately we have no say in what happens, and even if we do, it’s a real hard fight to prove so.
With this new relationship, we need to strongly push that any natural resource project, whether it’s in a land claims agreement area or not, has the following things put in place.
The first is an in-depth community consultation that is recorded and followed up on before any prospecting or touching the land even begins, and then having regular follow-up community sessions where locals can actually express their concerns.
The second is hiring locals not only to do the labour but also be the managers and hire personnel. In the education field, don’t start the project until you educate those local indigenous people to take those roles.
And the last thing is to have independent review boards and researchers who monitor and provide up-to-date data and analysis of these projects. These corporations need to be held accountable for coming onto our indigenous land and this needs to be included in our new partnership.
The last thing I would like to address is who our leaders actually represent. I come from a province. I currently live in Nunavut, but I grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, over the past three years, our premier has also been the minister responsible for Labrador and Aboriginal affairs. This person has been responsible for indigenous issues for three years. He is the only minister in the province who has not shown his face in my Nunatsiavut region. He has not grown up in this area and is not indigenous. I want to give an example of this.
Nalcor is destroying indigenous lands in Labrador, preventing Inuit and Innu from hunting on their traditional territory. However, the leader of the government, who is supposed to address these issues, is the same person who leads our province — the province that, technically speaking, owns the company that is in conflict with so many indigenous groups. I urge that going forward, it be addressed that no political representation of indigenous issues be the sole leader of a province.
For these points, I would like you to remember that friendship centres should be given the same opportunity for funding as other friendship centres, as we provide many of the same programs and services that other indigenous organizations receive. We are just in an urban setting.
Second, natural resource corporations need to have community consultations and local approval before any project is started.
And the third is that indigenous portfolios should be held by indigenous people who come from that area and not be the sole leader of that province.
I hope my comments have sparked some areas or created more proof for others that you might have already addressed.
I do have a question for you. I noticed that Senator Dyck stated in December of last year that this newly formed relationship will all depend on the group that we are currently addressing, as not all indigenous groups are the same. So I’m wondering whether there will be a bilateral agreement or what the agreements that have to be put in place for each indigenous group will look like. How will this be implemented in the future governments?
As Ms. Adamek stated last year, there needs to be more space for these types of discussions to happen, and I thank you for creating this space today. I look forward to your comments and questions.
The Chair: Thank you, Andrea.
Senator Patterson: Thank you for an obviously very well thought out and well-prepared presentation with some real concrete advice.
Do you think that if the Muskrat Falls project had followed the four principles that you mentioned are necessary, there’s a chance that the developers might have won support from the Inuit? Because I understand that the Innu did reach some kind of agreement, and it’s the Inuit, your community, that is really feeling more left out. Might it have been possible to work out a win-win scenario there ?
There’s a big project in Nunatsiavut, the Voisey’s Bay Mine. Do you have any comments on how that’s working and whether there’s more success in engaging or employing Inuit of Nunatsiavut in the heart of their lands in Nain?
Ms. Andersen: When any type of natural resource corporation goes on indigenous lands, there’s always talk of an impacts-benefit agreement. Nalcor was smart in this decision because the Muskrat Falls project technically is only on Innu lands. So they created the New Dawn Agreement, which is an impacts-benefit agreement between the Innu Nation and Nalcor and the provincial government. However, the Inuit have rights to their land claim area. But the Muskrat Falls site is outside of this land claim area. Inuit occupy the land, but they don’t have any say because it’s more Innu territory.
The things that are concerning now for the Inuit communities that are affected are pretty much what the other youth spoke of today around resource development and the impact road infrastructure is having on communities. I know that the community council in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is having to spend more funds repairing roads because of the heavy equipment that’s going over their roads on a daily basis and the congestion of bussing people in for work. It has slowed down the day-to-day life of the community itself.
There is no response planning happening between the corporation and those communities, so Nalcor’s only responsibility, if the dam breaks or gives way, is to just call the town and say, “Oh, the dam gave way.” They stated they are not responsible for any funding or anything that way to actually help in emergency response planning. So when the community of Mud Lake got evacuated last month, Nalcor didn’t have to spend a cent of that, even though they raised the water level because they lifted some of the doors of the dam.
With regard to those communities, they just want to be heard. They want to understand what’s happening. There is no communication saying, “This is what we’re doing. What do you think of it and how can we go from there?” Because they just came in and did what they said they were going to do. There was no input. I think you need to have that communication for everyone to be on the same page.
With regard to the Voisey's Bay Mine, it is different because it is in the Inuit Nunatsiavut Government land claim area, so Inuit have more control over that area. So they have their hiring processes in place, they have the scholarships for the youth and they have many training opportunities for young people to go in and to look at the mines. They have training opportunities for people to go and get employment in the area. They, I think, are a very good example of how a natural resource project should be done.
They worked with the Inuit. For example, there is a shipping vessel that goes up every year and breaks up the ice, and the Inuit can no longer cross that ice floe. What they did was to come up with a plan to create a bridge so the Inuit can still cross to go hunting on their traditional territories.
There are many things that need to be set in place, and Voisey's Bay has done that because the Inuit leaders made sure those things were done.
In the case of Muskrat Falls, it is different because it is owned by the government, and they got to the Innu Nation before people actually understood fully what it was going to look like.
Senator Sinclair: I want to begin by remarking that for such a little person, you pack a hell of a punch.
Ms. Andersen: Thank you.
Senator Sinclair: That’s meant as a compliment; I want you to know that.
I listened carefully to what you had to say, particularly around the issue of development and the need for involvement, consultation and even, by implication in the words that you said, consent. If I heard you correctly, and correct me if I am wrong, I thought I heard you say that one of the things you would want to have in place is that there would be agreements before development actually started.
Ms. Andersen: Yes.
Senator Sinclair: Those agreements imply a consent relationship. Have you seen any of those things ever happen that you could point to as an example?
Ms. Andersen: Yes. Labrador is very rich in natural resources, as is the rest of Canada, but I speak to it because that’s where I come from. I have an example. Uranium is really big, and Aurora Energy is a company that tried to do some uranium mining. Before they even did any prospecting, they held community meetings and said, “This is what we are expecting to do. What do you think?” They made sure they had input from people who previously worked in prospecting and they made sure they heard from the youth. They actually went to the schools and talked to the youth and said, “This is what we’re thinking of doing. What do you think of that?”
Then they also made monthly, if not yearly, visits to each community that would be affected regarding what they were wanting to do, and then they made sure that everything, like the communication of what they were doing, happened.
There wasn’t an agreement put in place because as long as they get their licence to be on the land, then they don’t have to have that community consent.
I think there’s an opportunity there. Whether it’s federal or provincial, I’m not sure, but once you get this permit or licence to actually prospect, there has to be a step where you have to do that community consultation first and get a majority consensus from the communities most affected.
I don’t know if that’s something that could be implemented, but it’s an idea.
Senator Sinclair: Just for clarification, is that company that operates within one of the Inuit land claims settlement areas?
Ms. Andersen: Yes. It is different because there is a land claims area, so they have to be responsible. And it’s a different, say, ball game when you’re dealing with other natural resource projects like pipelines and fracking, because there is no land claim preventing people from doing that.
I think having that step in the licensing or application process, to have those community consultations before anything is done, could be something that should be looked into because you’re then starting that community consultation.
Senator Sinclair: Thank you.
The Chair: Thank you, Andrea.
I would like to address your question to the committee. Thank you very much for going back into our history and looking at what had transpired when we had the youth leaders here last year. Do you think that we should go back and look at their testimony? We did have a smaller number of youth leaders the year before. Do you think it would be a good idea if we went back to those transcripts and import their input into our current study? At that time, we were under a general mandate.
You had a very specific question. We don’t know what we’re going to recommend in this study. Do you think we should go back and import that testimony and make it part of the testimony for this particular study?
Ms. Andersen: I think so, because some of the topics that were addressed, especially suicide prevention and the housing crisis in the North, are things that also need to be addressed.
The Chair: Thank you for that.
We will now move to our last youth leader this evening, Chris Tait. Welcome, Chris.
Chris Tait, as an individual: Awesome. Hi, everyone. My name is Chris Tait. I am from Vancouver, B.C. Right now I’m in school, trying to get my grade 12, and I’m working toward becoming a photographer and getting into people’s faces. It’s very exciting stuff.
I also work at a community centre developing different projects and initiatives. Some of those are looking to build partnerships within the community to help it be involved in the community centre that I work at specifically, and how we can get Aboriginal families involved. It’s something I have always been pretty passionate about, and it wasn’t until I got the call-up for the job that it was something I really wanted to do.
When I was younger, as mentioned in my bio and nomination, I began public speaking when I was 15, talking about my experience living in foster care. It was a very interesting and unorthodox way to get involved. A friend of mine invited me to a conference and then they invited me to speak and talk about some of the things I liked and didn’t like about foster care. I was 15. I wasn’t a public speaker by any means, officially. But I got very excited because it was the first time I was invited to speak about my story. I would share a lot of times with my friend and people who didn’t grow up in care and my non-indigenous friends, but never to a mass audience of people who work within the foster care system.
So I said yes. I was given an hour. I basically complained about where I was currently living, because I didn’t like the conditions or the other people I was living with. I was much younger, so I was a little more blunt and said I didn’t like it. I believe I was quoted as saying that they suck.
I talked about how my social worker wasn’t answering my calls and that I wasn’t being heard. The next thing I knew I was being heard very much so, and it was a very exciting experience.
I didn’t think I would ever grow a fan base from complaining about my current life situation, but apparently it can happen, which was very exciting.
I got to go and do other public speaking. I kept getting asked to come back. Each time I went back, I tried to add something more, because I was still developing my story on foster care.
I had a great mentor, someone helping me to speak clearly, speak my truth, and not just be a typical sad story of the young indigenous boy, as we were always calling it.
I am someone who, since I was very young, was very outspoken. Probably all of my former foster parents would tell you that I talk too much. Now I get paid to be a public speaker.
You never know what can happen from humble beginnings. It was very exciting to see that development over the course of my public speaking era, as I call it.
In 2009 I won an award for youth achievement and excellence. I didn’t care for it at the time. I was like, “Whatever.” This is just something so they can say, “Oh, look, we gave him an award.” I didn’t realize how big a deal that was at the time.
I met some cool people after that and kept working. I got invited to be a part of a council that works directly with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, working on the Youth Engagement Toolkit and various other projects, developing new brochures. It was a new way the ministry was looking at working with youth, which was exciting for me because these were the people I generally put in a negative light. It was exciting to go to the regional office and then the provincial office and see how it works and to meet the people behind the scenes.
In my experience growing up within foster care, I didn’t get to meet a lot of the people who were making decisions, and then there are the bigger decisions of funding and where it goes, and then bigger and bigger decisions. It was exciting to see how the system worked for me from the top down.
I then went on to win a national award, and that’s the first time I came to Ottawa, which was exciting. That to me was a big deal. I was nominated. I was told thousands of people get nominated. Someone from Vancouver the previous year had won. I thought there was no chance, no way. I won. I remember getting the phone call. I was transitioning out of foster care to being on my own. I was shopping for all of the stuff that I needed to be an adult. Everyone does it at some point in their life. It was very exciting for me. Then I kept working on developing myself, developing what I want to see, changes within the system, certain policy changes.
Where I’m at now, I’ve been helping with initiatives that I believe are working towards some of the key things I value, which is permanency for young people, whether through housing or a supportive network that they build with unpaid relationships. When you grow up in care, you meet a lot of people, but unfortunately there are a lot of “paid” relationships, the people who are put next to you. In B.C. -- I should probably tread softly here -- when you turn 19, you age out of foster care and lose a lot of the financial support and a lot of people you would think of as your allies.
I was fortunate enough that I had a lot of people who were paid support, but they also wanted to continue after I was 19 because they saw a lot of potential in me. I was very lucky. I had a lot of people helping me do things like getting housing, getting myself a couch and a bed and basic things that allowed me to work toward doing other things that I really enjoy doing.
Not all of my experience in care was positive. I definitely lived in a lot of homes where it was weird to walk in, and they were surprised that I was Native. I would talk to them on the phone and show up and they didn’t think I was Native. I was like, “Cool, I didn’t know you were you, so there we go.”
There were definitely other things I talked about in doing my presentations. I didn’t want to retread some of the old things I have talked about.
The things I’m looking at developing for the future would include creating more youth engagement, first at a local level and then hopefully a provincial level and beyond, as well as looking at the avenues that Aboriginal people play a part in.
For me, when I started learning about statistics and the different numbers within foster care, because I really wanted to do more research and learn more, I found out there was a high percentage of Aboriginal children in care in B.C., even though we’re only 2 per cent of the population, I think, which was very alarming.
When I sat down and thought about it, most of the people I met, most of my mentors were former Aboriginal youth in care who had aged out and became alumni and helped me on my path.
Where am I now? I’m trying to do a lot of advocacy pieces. Those are the things I’m looking toward doing and developing. The current job I have, the RISE Leader/program assistant position, I work at Hastings Community Centre. I won a grant to do a photo voice project. I’m going to call it “Picturing Community,” and it will be working with young people from various areas around Vancouver who I’m hoping to recruit personally and work with and get their perspective about what a community looks like to them. Because we all have our own perspective of what a community likes like to us and what we see as our community, and how we can build off that and create more engagement and improve community.
I’m also trying to develop photography and my own skills with that. I enjoy doing photography. I feel it’s the best way to get to know somebody, and there’s a never-ending supply of people who need photography. That’s also great.
The Chair: Thank you, Chris.
Senator Pate: Thank you, Chris. It sounds like you and Stephen should do a display next year in conjunction with the event, and all of you who do artistic work as well. I think that would be great.
We could think of some way to do it with social media, but I’m not technologically proficient, so we’ll leave that to others.
I’m curious. It sounds as though you may have worked with the National Youth in Care Network. Was it a conference there? The advocacy you’re doing is some work they’ve done nationally as well.
Mr. Tait: Yes, a little bit. Since I got my new job, I’ve been trying to help in other ways, volunteering and doing other things. A little bit, I guess, to answer the question.
Senator Pate: Are there things you’re doing that you could share with us so we can make sure we’re getting that information out, if it’s not through some of those national networks?
Mr. Tait: Sure. Like, the different advocacy pieces I want to look at? There are so many.
Definitely creating more permanency for youth in care. There are so many times where youth in care are moved a lot. Sometimes it’s a crazy number. Two is already too many, but I’ve heard obscene numbers. When you’re moved around a lot, when you don’t have a home base or a solid foundation, somewhere to put your feet, it very much feels like you’re never able to focus on your bigger dreams and aspirations. That’s something I have advocated for and talked about since I was 16.
I had an unfortunate experience where I had someone approach me and say that they were going to adopt my brothers and they wanted to adopt me. I was for it, more to be with my brothers than to be adopted. It unfortunately never worked with this person and me. We just had different — what is it the celebrities say? -- irreconcilable differences.
Now I’m trying to advocate that we build permanency. There are more ways to build permanency in a young person’s life than just getting them adopted. There’s creating more housing options for them, building a support network around them that allows them to become things like tech moguls, go to university or various things. I’ve been trying to research other avenues people can pursue, like trades and other options.
I’ve been trying to research a little bit around aging out at 19 and what it would look like if it were a different number, or if support went past age 19. I don’t want to bore you to death. There are so many pieces, but I would say those are the top two.
Senator Pate: Thank you.
Have you done any research, work or advocacy around the interconnection of young people, particularly indigenous young people, who end up in the care of the state and who are almost pushed into prisons?
Mr. Tait: Not too much personally, but I’ve definitely been connected with various organizations and other people who are doing that work.
I’m still learning. I feel like it’s very important, because it’s a huge number of youth, in particular, in B.C. right now who are actually aging out and becoming homeless. Then it leads back to things like addictions and suicide. A lot of the time, it seems like the media is turning to me to get my quote on it. I’m like, “Well, you shouldn’t be asking me. You should be asking people in that community.” In a lot of ways, I just speak to my personal story. I can’t comment on this thing.
For me, yes, I’m still learning a lot about it. I was shocked to hear some of the numbers and stats. It was really appalling.
Senator Pate: Thank you, Chris. Thanks for all your work.
Senator McPhedran: Chris, this picks up pretty much where you left off responding to Senator Pate’s question. It is to acknowledge that in the research available to us about sex trafficking in Canada, a hugely disproportionate percentage of Aboriginal youth are the target of sex traffickers. Clearly, you’ve seen a lot, and you spoke specifically to aging out. Would you make a connection between aging out and vulnerability to sex trafficking?
Mr. Tait: I definitely think there’s a connection. Just having experienced aging out, it’s very abrupt; you age so fast. Just feeling like, “Okay, now I’m my own person. I can call this person and this person, and that’s it.” I was fortunate enough that so many people wanted to stay involved, because when I was younger, I had a lot of momentum and endless possibilities of things I could do.
To answer the question, it would be really interesting to see what kind of research there is out there already and maybe there isn’t any.
Senator McPhedran: There is.
Mr. Tait: I personally would be really interested to see what is already out there.
Senator Patterson: We’re looking at the new relationship that the current federal government has talked about being a high priority. In my region of Nunavut, the Prime Minister has already convened a meeting of the presidents of all the regional Inuit associations, and they’ve set up a subcommittee. They’re going to meet with four or five cabinet ministers more than once a year, and the Prime Minister is going to meet once a year.
Listening to you and your call for youth engagement, and listening to Jacquelyn Cardinal talk about supporting grassroots initiatives and Tiffany saying, “Talk to people who are affected,” I wonder if you’d agree that instead of the top-down approach that — I don’t want to criticize the Prime Minister. It’s a noble effort, but it is with the leaders at the very top of the Aboriginal organizations.
We’re looking at doing some regional visits to various parts of the country in the next part of this study. I wonder if you’d recommend that we reach out to people like you, working at a community centre, involving families and working with youth and recommending youth engagement. If we go out to regions, maybe we make an effort to connect with the people who are affected, the people you’re talking about, rather than the elected leaders of political organizations that have been there for decades.
Would that be a good direction? Do you think people like you could help us reach out to those youth you say we should be engaged with, which are such a high proportion, and growing proportion, of the Aboriginal population?
Mr. Tait: Yes. I realized when I was about 17 or 18 that, technically, my social worker worked for me, and then her job was just at the office. Some of her days were spent having to meet with me. Someone told me that, and I didn’t realize it. I just thought that I had to pick up her phone calls and see her. I was told, “Actually, she is supposed to be advocating or your behalf, so when you go today, let her know you need lunch and see what happens.” I thought that was super weird but I would do it.
I met with her and she was talking to me about potentially moving again, blah blah blah. I said, “That’s great. Can we get lunch?” She asked where I wanted to go. I thought, “Oh my gosh. Advocacy is real.”
For a lot of young people, when they’re given the opportunity, as we see here today, they’re able to talk and they do want to talk. There are even newer issues that relate to the young people who are in care now that are so different from when I was in care, but probably the same issues come up around aging out, moving, not having permanent connections and that there are too many people swapping in and out of a person’s life that they can’t connect to anybody. Then they’re left at 19 alone, and what are they left with? Nothing.
I’ve seen young people that I know personally -- I have tried to help mentor a little bit and get them jobs and stuff — do total 360s from living on the street to now living in the artist building where I live. They’ve succeeded me and have gone beyond that.
It could start with giving them an opportunity to be heard, or it could be giving them some time with Justin Trudeau or whoever goes. It’s very important. The people who go that day are the people who are meant to be there too.
I would say “yes” to the suggestion of the regional visits. They’re very important and useful. I would love to help with that.
Senator Raine: Thank you very much, Chris. For me it’s been very interesting today.
I don’t know a lot about the foster care system. I understand it’s different from one province to another, but it seems to me if there’s a child who it looks like is going to be going from home to home along the way, you need to have some way — and you’ve gone through it now; you would be in a position to maybe look at this — of saying what are the skills that most children learn from their family? How can those skills and that background be given to these people with a group of supporters around them that stay with them through that journey?
Would that be something that you could flesh out and maybe work on? It needs to be done; you’re absolutely right.
Mr. Tait: Personally, there are so many skills I learned, like talking with different people and treating everyone fairly, even though a lot of the time it’s like my parents are being underpaid and that’s probably why they don’t like me. That was always my joke growing up in care: “They’re just not doing their job right. They just don’t get paid enough.”
I talk to youth in care now, and I ask them what it feels like to live in a foster home now, and they say, “You don’t even know. It’s so different.” They actually start talking about some of the root things they’re struggling with, and I tell them I had that struggle. I didn’t have Twitter or Facebook back in the day, but it’s the same struggle, ultimately, talking about permanency and the bigger things around housing and being able to reach goals other than just getting housing, especially within the city in Vancouver. It’s ridiculously expensive.
I think it’s important to work with these young people and help them develop, because a lot of them do have skills and other things on the back burner. Whenever I meet any young person, I see them drawing or doing this thing, and I say, “That’s really cool; what is that?” And they will show me this animation thing and I'll say, “What? This is a cartoon idea that should go to a tech mogul,” and they say they just do it for fun. I tell them, “This is literally a career you’re working on and you don’t realize it.”
There’s so much potential there. With me, when I realized I could publicly speak and make a difference, that’s when I realized I can ask for ridiculous amounts of money to do this because I’m the only Aboriginal youth doing this. I’m a rare commodity. When I started realizing this thing it started putting the pieces together for me.
I think it would help young people to help develop their skills, if I’m perceiving the question correctly, and help them work on things they are not so good at.
I think the biggest thing within foster care that needs to be looked at is conflict resolution and being transparent with foster parents and youth, because I felt like when I was in care that I didn’t get to have a say. My foster parents had a say. I would move out. I had this file, and people would read my file and get this perception. I would tell them, “That was me yesterday, to be honest. I’m a different person today. I don’t want what I’m going to be like tomorrow, but I can tell you that’s not me.” I think my experience really spoke to that with some folks. It is really weird to think now that I am more connected with foster families I lived with previously, but as an adult, because they’ve become huge fans. They support my work 100 per cent. Sometimes when I see them, I feel like saying, “Man, it would have been cool if you had supported me when I was in care, but that’s okay.” Forgive and forget.
I think especially developing skill sets among youth in care and being able to find ways to get them funding for school and whatever they need, it’s there. There’s so much potential for young people today, both in care or not, especially with indigenous youth.
The Chair: We have gone past our time by quite a few minutes, but it was certainly worth it. Our clerk just wrote out: “Wow.”
We’ve had an amazing evening this evening, having you nine youth leaders with us, providing us with your gems of wisdom and rooting us in reality, but also giving us some concrete ideas to move forward.
On behalf of all the senators on the committee, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for being with us tonight and giving us such wonderful testimony that will inform our study. We will be in touch with you throughout this journey, I’m sure. Thank you very much.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
(The committee adjourned.)