The Day I was Called An Accomplice.

“What did you say?”, I asked.? She said, “You are more than an ally, you are an #Accomplice.”

I was shocked, surprised and delighted. Yes, that is it.? An ally stands by and supports, but an #accomplice is an active participant.? Most of us would associate this with a crime, but in this case, it is an active participant in change, absolute total change for the #Indigenouspeople in #Canada.? Every single Canadian should be an #Accomplice. Imagine what we could change.

On this, #National IndigenousPeople’sDay and during this month, I am reflecting on my own journey of reflection and learning.? I have been on this path since 2019, and there is still a long way to go, but along that journey I have been privileged to work with and grow friendships with many indigenous people, Metis, First Nations and Inuit.?

What I did not realise was that this journey began many years ago when I was in high school. At that time, students from a local first nation came to our “middle class” small town high school, and I can only imagine what this experience was like for them. We were a predominantly “white” school, with only three or four black students, maybe a dozen or so Asian students. They had to come to this school, with no cultural alignment and with the systemic racism that would have been present in the 80’s.? My friend group was diverse and wide ranging, and include many of those under-represented students.? It did not even occur to me that inviting some of our indigenous peers into this friend group would be seen as different or challenging, nor did it occur to my friend group.? I had been taught by my mom, who was a German immigrant and had seen the damage that WW2 had done, to be tolerant, understanding and above all inclusive of diverse people and opinions. Was this my first foray into #allyship? Probably.

Since then, I have always had a diverse friend group which include people of #FirstNations and #Metis descent. What I did not know, what I did not understand was how whitewashed the history they taught us in school was. This is truly about what my journey is about today.

When you are told that the last residential school in Canada closed in 1995 and you realize you were in your 20's when that happened, what is the reaction? For me it was shock, shame and a persistent feeling that I needed to do more and to be better, to understand and then use that understanding to be a voice. To be alongside all our #Indigenouspeople fighting for their treaty rights, for their #culture, their #language and the same economic prosperity that we as “Canadians”, settlers, occupiers and visitors take for granted.

I have been privileged and proud to be able to lead the Metis Settlements Development Corporation . To learn, to listen, to educate, and especially to be able to work alongside so many amazing #Metis and #FirstNations leaders, many who I am privileged to call friends. I am continually amazed how in this time, so many people that I known for years, are now unafraid to openly and proudly tell me that they are Metis or First Nations, and I am proud that they share that with me.

Thank you Randi Ray for calling me an #Accomplice.? This has inspired me to do more, be more and always do things in a good way.? Thanks to Shannon Pestun , who encouraged me to write this blog. Thanks to Metis Settlements Development Corporation board for taking a chance on me to build this incredible organization. Thanks to Canadian Council for Indigenous Business board for letting me part of building the #indigenouseconomy.

Thank you to all those I am meeting on this journey, for your teachings, your patience, your wisdom and above all your ongoing perseverance against incredible odds to be the most amazing people you are.? It is my absolute privilege to work with you all.

We are at a tipping point, and I know that all of us on Turtle Island and in this country, we call Canada have the capacity to be #Accomplices.

So today, I call on you, how are you going to be an #Accomplice?? Start your journey today and learn more, there is not time like the present.