Hoping the message sticks

For Aboriginal History Month, the Standing Senate Committee on the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada invited young Indigenous leaders from across to speak on the subject of a new relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples.

Tiffany Monkman, a 30-year-old Métis woman from North Kildonan who works at the University of Manitoba’s Aboriginal Business Education Partners, was one of nine who made the trek to Ottawa on June 7 to "Indigenize the Senate."

"I was nominated, but I didn’t think I would be chosen," said Monkman, who graduated from the Asper School of Business in 2012. "Just in Winnipeg itself, there are so many amazing Indigenous youth leaders. Even among my students in my program there are so many of them."

Monkman and the other eight representatives met with senators one-on-one, and each prepared statements that they presented to the Standing Senate Committee on the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. Currently, the committee is beginning work on a study on a new relationship between Canada and First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

"The study aims to determine and advise government on what that means and what should be done," said Dennis Patterson, senator for Nunavut and deputy committee chair. "This is not going to be a quick and dirty study. It’s an ambitious topic."

"It was something I’ll never forget," Monkman said. "The senators were really interested in hearing what we had to say. Every single one of us was different, but at the same time we were getting to the root of wanting to help build new relationship."

Key to that new relationship, Monkman believes, is establishing a dialogue that values the voices of and engages meaningfully with "regular Indigenous people," rather than working "top to bottom."

"I think Indigenous voices have been underrepresented in the senate," Monkman said. "But I think they want to change that."

"With this study, we wanted to take a different approach," Patterson said. "We are familiar with leaders of Aboriginal organizations and officials in the Department of Indigenous & Northern Affairs and what they have to say. With this, we thought, let’s try and hear from ordinary people."

Monkman said it was encouraging that the committee invited Indigenous youth at the beginning of their study.

"I really hope that (what we said) sticks with them," she said. "It was a rare opportunity to have that platform. This is our time to celebrate the next 150 years."

"I can say the committee was very inspired by the advice and testimony of the youth," Patterson said. "It exceeded our wildest expectations."

Monkman’s testimony was related to her work in providing Indigenous youth with economic opportunities, with a focus on success.

"It’s exhausting being in a negative space," she said. "Having some hope pushes people to succeed. I want Indigenous people to be heard, and have the platform they deserve to tell their stories."

"Something that resonated with me, from the youth, was how reconnecting with culture is empowering and inspiring," Patterson said. "There was a strong emphasis on efforts to improve and enhance connections between language and culture."

The committee’s next step is to go out and engage with youth, elders, and other "grassroots" members of Indigenous communities across the country.

"We’re looking for new fresh ideas, fresh points of view," Patterson said, adding that the target date of completion for the study is December 2018.

Monkman said her experience in Ottawa was inspirational.

"It definitely got me excited to want to do more, though I’m not sure what level that would be," she said. "Anyway to help Indigenous community, I’m all for it."

Facebook.com/TheHeraldWPG
Twitter: @heraldWPG