Honourable senators, I rise today as a settler and a proud ally. A settler — it’s taken some time for me to get comfortable with that word, as a Black woman whose family roots run from Canada to Trinidad to Nigeria, where the slave trade uprooted my ancestors and forcefully brought them west. A settler, an ally, a Black woman and a francophone — we all carry these diverse identities with us wherever we go.

I brought them with me to Yellowknife and Dettah and Mackenzie Island in the Northwest Territories this year. Senator Anderson was supportive of my goal: I wanted to meet with folks to understand their experiences.

I set my sights high and requested meetings with a dozen groups. I underestimated just how hospitable northerners can be, and I ended up with a very full schedule.

I snowmobiled across Great Slave Lake to Dechinta Łiwe Camp, where the community was invited to pull in fishnets, cut and gut fish, and meet with elders and leaders. I won’t be able to do justice to what it felt like to be warmly welcomed on the land, to watch a storm roll in across the lake while we talked about the creation of different words for climate change, and to witness the pride that my new friends felt in their culture and their traditions.

I went back to Dettah the next day to meet with Chief Betsina, Chief Sangris and language expert Mary Rose Sundberg. They were clear that last-minute, temporary grants were not going to do the job of restoring language skills, which were so thoroughly cut off by residential schools. We talked about solutions — namely, stable, sustainable funding sent directly to communities.

At CKLB Radio, I met journalist and translator Judi Kochon. Judi is a champion of her language, and I’m honoured to be able to share with you, honourable colleagues, how she inspired me. As a residential school survivor, she’d spent only two months a year speaking with her parents in her native language, North Slavey. She didn’t think she was fluent enough to speak on radio, but the elders said to her, “Try. We’ll help you. We have confidence in you.” So when she told listeners that wood buffalo were on the highway, but mistranslated and said they were sneaking in the willows, there were calls to correct, yes, but there was also laughter.

After decades in the business, Judi still has so much energy, and she’s well supported by Native Communications Society CEO and ally Rob Ouellette.

I have so many more stories to tell, and more shared wisdom to pass along, but that will have to wait for another day. I’ll end with this: I was originally going to give this statement on March 31 on National Indigenous Languages Day, or in the month of June during National Indigenous History Month, but here I am today on a random Wednesday in May. As a Black woman, I know that Black history shouldn’t be celebrated and recognized only in February; it matters every day of the year. In the same way, I carry the work of allyship with me every day, as well as gratitude for the folks I met in the Northwest Territories. Thank you. Nia:wen.