The Indigenous Employees' Circle (IEC) Newsletter

On November 16, 1885, 133 years ago, Louis Riel was hanged for treason by the Government of Canada under John A. Macdonald. To mark this event and celebrate the life of the great Métis leader, on November 15, Elder Reta Gordon and lawyer Jean Teillet (R. v. Powley) kindly presented "The Métis Nation of the North-West" to a very interested group of Employment and Social Services Canada (ESDC) employees. While Elder Gordon provided insightful and heart felt opening and closing words, Ms. Teillet helped steer the crowd through her vast knowledge of the Métis Nation.

By inviting Indigenous Peoples to share stories like these with their employees, the Government of Canada is demonstrating through concrete actions that they are slowly beginning to work with us toward reconciliation.

The ESDC Indigenous Employee Circle would like to thank Elder Gordon and Jean Teillet for taking the time to educate Government Employees about the Métis People. Through events like these, we hope that the relation between the Government of Canada and the Métis people will keep strengthening. "We can't go forward if we don't know our past."
- Reta Gordon

Note: In early 2019, don't forget to get your copy of Jean Teillet's new book The Métis Nation of the North-West that will be published by Harper Collins. This book promises to tell over 200 years of Métis history from a Métis perspective!

Article, by Réjean Belcourt

Indian Residential School Interactive Map

Edmonton Indian Residential School, St. Albert, Alberta, September 30, 1948. Photo credit: Library and Archives Canada

When I was approached with the idea of writing an article about the Indian Residential School Interactive Map, from the perspective of an Indigenous employee of ESDC, my first thought was that there wouldn't be much more for me to add that wasn't already covered in the CBC article, Was There A Residential School Near You?.

The ruins of the Edmonton Indian Residential School. Photo credit: Kathleen Steinhauer

With this in mind, I clicked on the link to the interactive map and followed the simple on-screen instructions. I entered the year I was born (that's a secret!) and the city of Edmonton address where I was born.

Expecting the results to take me to a residential school located far from Edmonton, I was surprised to see that the Edmonton Indian Residential School was just 14 kilometres away, near present day St. Albert. It was also known as Poundmaker, and was opened in 1924 and operated until 1966. I was further surprised by the fact that the interactive map also mentioned, based on my birth year, that when I started primary school, approximately 19 residential schools were still operating across Canada.

At this point my curiosity got the better of me. Wanting to know more I selected the "Show all schools" button and the screen transformed into a full-sized map of Canada revealing points all over our country where residential schools operated. My heart sank as I realized that not a single province or territory went untouched by a system that we now know sought to eradicate Indian, Inuit and Métis language and culture in a manner that left survivors broken and traumatized, as paraphrased in the Statement of apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools from then Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Further web searches brought me to The United Church of Canada Archives site, where I found a comprehensive history of the schools that they operated. Upon reading their history of the Poundmaker, it was apparent that the children were used mainly as farm labourers with little to no academic instruction and many graduates could barely read or write.

The saddest part of the story for me was the cemetery. It was established on the school grounds to accommodate the burial needs of Indigenous and Inuit people who died at the Camsell Hospital and whose families could not afford to transport them back to their ancestral home. The young boys of the school were paid to dig the graves, but received no payment for maintaining the graveyard.

The school was repurposed throughout its history and was finally closed on June 30, 1968.

I would encourage everyone to try the Indian Residential School Interactive Map and also take the time to research the history of the school that you find was located near you. I appreciated that through reading the stories told of the suffering of the children I got a better perspective of the conditions that they endured. Ultimately, I found that I got a richer experience from this approach than I would have by simply using the interactive map.

Regards,

Ernest Mountain

Senior Development Officer, ASETS

Edmonton Indian Residential School, St. Albert, Alberta, September 30, 1948. Photo credit: Library and Archives Canada

What Reconciliation Means to Me

"You don't know poor, until you lived in the dorms."

Over my lifetime, I have worn many hats, played many roles, and had many jobs, which have brought me to today. Currently within ESDC, I am a Payment Services Officer (PSO) located in the St. John's, NL Call Centre. But first and foremost, I am an Indigenous daughter, woman and mother.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission brought forward to all of Canada the harm done by residential schools; to the people who lived through them, and the generations that followed.

I am one of those people.

My mother was raised in a residential school, sent at age 8 until she was 18. She does not talk much about "the dorms" as it was referred too, and I would only hear a comment here and there about the strict dorm mothers, or "you don't know poor until you lived in the dorms." It was something not openly discussed.

My mother remains silent.

It was not until I had my own children that I came to the full realization of what she must have gone through, and how being raised in an institution really affected behaviours, ambitions and relationships. I was raised to not question authority figures, and accept their statements as to be true. To have personal ambitions were not discussed; and to accept where we were as it; wanting something different was not an option. Expressions of emotions and knowing how to respond were difficult. When I became a parent, I had to consciously make a decision to express and show emotions with my children. I had to be consciously aware, supportive, and understanding. These traits are absent to many affected by residential schools. When my oldest child turned 9 this year, it really played on my mind. It was at that moment that I realized had he been born during my mother's generation he would not be with me, and would have been living in a dorm far from me for a year. The bond between parent and children is needed from a young age throughout their lifetime. People need to develop a sense of belonging, this is especially important for indigenous people, to be grounded with a sense of identity in an ever-changing world.

The "dorms" affected generations.

When looking at Reconciliation, to me it means a new beginning while remembering the past. I know it begins with me, to educate my children, my peers and community. Being one Indigenous person with a voice can open doors for others to speak up and be heard. Taking control and standing up for decisions that affect me should always include me. When raised in a home and a community where you avoid conflict, especially where there are authority figures, it is hard but I have to do it.

I have a voice and will speak when others cannot.

Teresa Evans

Payment Services Officer, Benefit Delivery Services Branch

A Message From Your Regional Representative

"Maliotenam Indian Residential School, children and nuns in front of the school, Sept-Îles, Quebec, ca. 1950"

I had the pleasure to build a presentation for every team at the Shawinigan call centre about Residential school. Many of my colleagues never heard of what happened back then, or even knew that residential schools were a thing. The presentation was heavy and had saddened many people but we got a lot of good feedback. We may be doing another presentation early next year and we hope that it will reach your expectations for those that are attending.

I also wish to gather your comments about the Moose hide campaign, we were very time limited and only a few of us had the chance to have pins to distribute. We will plan ahead for the next activities! You can send your comments and requests to our general IEC mailbox or email them to me directly.

Maryse Awashish

Moose Hide Campaign Reflection

As I sit here fasting over lunch as a personal commitment to honor and protect the women and children in my family, organizations and communities, I contemplate the effect of my actions on my sons. I shared a small bundle of Moose Hide pins with my oldest son that is in tenth grade. He renewed a sense of hope in me this morning when he told me that he need more pins and that he presented the Moose Hide Campaign in his French and Math class.

I encourage you all to take time today and every day to reflect on how and what we can do to stand up against violence towards women and children and to talk to the young men and boys in your life to effect change. Attached are posters of the Moose Hide Campaign and even though there is a National Gathering and Day of Fasting in Ottawa today you can still order pins and take part in the Moose Hide Campaign because this is a year round issue.

Miigwetch

Daniel Ducharme

An ESDC Indigenous Inventory was launched in 2018 for Indigenous employees from across Canada who currently work in the Federal Public Service and are interested in job opportunities at the same or equivalent group and level within ESDC (assignment, secondment, deployment) and other organizations within the core public administration.

All Indigenous Employees who are interested in new work experiences are encouraged to apply online. For more information, you can contact: NC-REPERTOIREAUTOCHTONE-NONEX-INDIGENOUSINVENTORY-GD

On Wednesday February 13, 2019, the Indigenous Employee Circle (IEC) was proud to host an Inuit Life & Culture awareness learning session at the Indigenous Cultural Centre (ICC) in Edmonton, Alberta. Through a partnership with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) this session was made available to Service Canada employees via video conference in Brandon, MB, Regina, SK, Prince Albert, SK, Nanaimo BC, and Vancouver, BC.

Elder Goota Desmarais sharing knowledge at the ICC

Inuit Elder, Goota Desmarais of Inuit Connections delivered a powerful presentation of Inuit life and culture. Dressed in a traditional baby carrier, called and amouti, she passionately shared her culture through storytelling and the use of authentic Inuit artifacts and foods. If you are interested in learning more about this exciting experience please read the article "Goota Desmarais' Talk on Inuit Life an Emotional Eye Opener" written by Isaac Bell, Program and Services Delivery Clerk for Indigenous Program Delivery in Edmonton. The article was published in the March 6, 2019 edition of It's All About You (IAAY).

Ernest Mountain

IEC Western Territory Representative

Jenny Anderson promoting IEC

Jenny Anderson, the IEC Secretary was at the Western Territories Team Leader Forum in November 2018. The theme of the forum was "Diverse and Dynamic Leadership" and this provided a variety of learning activities for the Western Territories Team Leads. This two day event also offered networking opportunities where they could engage with speakers from Labour Relations, OICM, the Office of Values and Ethics, Informal Conflict Management, Official Languages, Saba Team and Strategic Services. A number of Indigenous activities and topics were presented at this event. The IEC is always looking for ways to share information and get involved with the Department.

What is the difference between a "Member" and "Friend, Partner, Affiliate Member"?

A "Member" is an employee who self-identifies as Aboriginal or Indigenous. Under the Employment Equity Act, Aboriginal is defined as: First Nations, Métis, or Inuit

A "Member" is granted certain rights and privileges as outlined in the Terms of Reference such as the right to vote on important decisions, the ability to put their name forward for any of the Executive Committee or National Council positions, and the right to be represented by the IEC.

A "Friend, Partner, Affiliate Member" is an employee that does not self-identify as an Aboriginal or Indigenous person, however, they are still able to participate in National Council meetings as an observer and receive/share information through the IEC network. They do not have any voting privileges during the National Council meetings and they are not eligible to apply or run for any Executive or National Council positions.

What is an Alumni Member?

An Alumni member is a designation that is granted to an IEC member who is no longer an employee of ESDC but is still interested in supporting the efforts and partnerships created within the IEC. They are still able to receive updates and participate in National Council meetings as an observer but do not have any voting privileges. They are also not eligible to apply or run for any Executive Committee or National Council positions.

To be an Alumni member, you must submit a special request to the IEC National Council.

Are there any fees to join?

No, there is no cost to join the IEC. You just need to email a completed application from the IEC Intranet site.

How to become a Member:

Email the completed application form found on the IEC Intranet site and send it to: NC-AEC-CEA-GD