CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS MAGAZINE
Leaders Prioritize Community over Individual Gain A Manitoba Fastball Team Defies the Odds
The Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc.
ISSUE 122 LEADERSHIP
DISPLAY UNTIL NOVEMBER 1, 2023
PM 43436539 PRINTED IN CANADA $8.99
BUILDING LEADERSHIP CAPACITY TODAY FOR TOMORROW
2 | LEADERSHIP
contents.SPECIAL EDITION 2023 ISSUE 122
6 CWF’s WILD Outside Program 20 NAIG 2023 26 Indigenous Leadership Across the Country
30 Music - The Pretendians Band 32 Music - Hataałii 34 Advertiser Index
LEADERSHIP
8 Cover Feature The Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc. Works with Indigenous Facilitators across Canada to Build the Leadership Capacity of our Present and Future Leaders Cover photo by Destiny Gulewich Photography
12
14
Indigenous Champions Phil Fontaine and Bernadette Smith Have Made Significant Strides in Championing Justice, Reconciliation and Empowerment for Indigenous Communities in Canada
28
At 82 Years Young, Musical Icon Buffy Sainte-Marie Continues to Inspire the Masses Despite Her Retirement from Live Performances
Meet Shannon Bennett and Kerianne Gray, Two Resilient Women Entrepreneurs Who Are Following Their Dreams and Positively Impacting Their Communities
23
The Peguis Redmen Fastball Team is Building a Legacy of Leadership through Sport for Their First Nation Community and for Other Indigenous Youth on Turtle Island AUGUST 2023 | 3
COVER FEATURE
Photo by Destiny Gulewich Photography ILDI Staff (left to right) Amber Sumner, Melissa Hotain, Debbie Burka, Ken Whitecloud, Mackenzie Oatway, Camille Page, Madison McIvor, Ada Uddoh, Susan Swan, and Brent Maslow
Facilitators With a Mission
Sponsored by the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc.
The Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc. (ILDI) works with Indigenous facilitators across Canada who are trained to deliver ILDI’s executive training. With over 100 years of combined experience, ILDI facilitators are on a mission to build the leadership capacity of our present and future leaders. 8 | LEADERSHIP
I
ncorporated in 2000 in the province of Manitoba, the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc. (ILDI) is a non-profit organization established to build leadership capacity in Indigenous Peoples. An Indigenous-owned and -operated company, ILDI is directed by a volunteer board reflecting the diversity of the Indigenous community. The facilitators that work with ILDI are certified by the Professional Trainer
Accreditation Program at The Institute of Professional Management and are members of the Canadian Professional Trainers Association (CPTA). ILDI facilitators are knowledgeable, understanding and highly educated with varied professional competencies. They are lawyers, directors from every sector, former CEOs of Indigenous and nonIndigenous organizations, former Chiefs, council members and senior administrators of their communities.
COVER FEATURE
While some people may be born to leadership, most of us only acquire leadership skills over time through education, skills development and life experience. ILDI aims to develop and enhance the leadership qualities characteristic of strong community leaders, and that also includes empowering Indigenous youth in governance and supporting Elders. “It is critical that we build the capacity of our leaders so that we can continue to better govern ourselves and take the lead in governing our communities, as we know what needs to get done and how to do it,” says ILDI facilitator Leona McIntyre. McIntyre grew up in the small Métis farming and fishing community of Kinosota (Manitoba) where she currently resides. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Brandon University and has extensive experience in community development, facilitating workshops with First Nations, Métis communities and non-Indigenous groups. McIntyre has designed and developed Indigenous culture workshops, and facilitated these workshops for Manitoba Hydro, the Dauphin Race Relations Committee, Brandon Police Services and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, to name a few.
Photo by Destiny Gulewich Photography
ILDI facilitators know our communities and the challenges Indigenous Peoples face in their pursuit of good governance. Most of the facilitators have grown up in First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities, and understand the needs and requirements of our communities and the development of our people. They have lived and experienced the issues faced by many Indigenous communities.
Leona McIntyre, ILDI Facilitator
With an impressive resume that includes working for the Assiniboine Regional Health Authority, and as an instructor at Assiniboine Community College, McIntyre’s passion for educating others is evident in her workshop delivery. She is a true leader who wears many hats as a long-time volunteer in her community, an author, and a national awardwinning photographer, artist and craftsperson with much of her work featured in China, Sweden, Germany, Australia, England and Canada. McIntyre has been with the Province of Manitoba for the last 12 years working in agriculture, economic development, and now in natural resources and northern development in the Reconciliation and Consultation Unit. She has been a facilitator with ILDI for over 18 years, and has had the pleasure and opportunity to work with numerous Indigenous Peoples globally.
It is critical that we build the capacity of our leaders so that we can continue to better govern ourselves and take the lead in governing our communities, as we know what needs to get done and how to do it.
~ Leona McIntyre, ILDI Facilitator
AUGUST 2023 | 9
COVER FEATURE
ILDI facilitators have over 100 years of combined experience in good governance, leadership and community development.
10 | LEADERSHIP
Photo by Destiny Gulewich Photography
COVER FEATURE
Susan Swan, ILDI Facilitator
Our philosophy is sharing our knowledge about governance, leadership and accountability to make sure our communities grow and prosper. It is our ultimate mission. ~ Susan Swan, ILDI Facilitator
Another ILDI facilitator with a passion for empowering others is Susan Swan. “Our philosophy is sharing our knowledge about governance, leadership and accountability to make sure our communities grow and prosper,” she says. “It is our ultimate mission.” Swan, from Lake Manitoba First Nation, is an accomplished human resources professional with direct experience in the development and oversight of policies and procedures, recruiting and hiring practices, personnel development, union and labour relations, accompanied by negotiations and conflict management. Prior to her work in HR, she was the first Indigenous female police officer to be employed by the Winnipeg Police Service. During this time, she achieved the rank of Sergeant and supervised a platoon in one of Winnipeg’s high-profile districts, including being responsible for a shift of 22 street officers, which included making critical decisions under high-stress situations.
Swan has received numerous accolades for her many contributions and is a soughtafter motivational speaker. She is the proud recipient of the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Community Volunteerism; a Gemini Award recipient for a Man Alive Documentary The Red Road; and a Manitoba First Nations Award Recipient. She is also a published author in the book First Lady Nation Volume 2: Stories By Aboriginal Women. Although Swan is officially retired, she now facilitates training within the Indigenous community in the areas of human resource management, governance, workplace conflict, facilitation training and team building. ILDI is proud of the diversity and professionalism reflected in its facilitators. And like each of the facilitators, ILDI’s commitment is to our people. All of the ILDI curriculum has been developed by an all-Indigenous team, including the board of directors, staff and facilitators, ensuring it is relevant to the current need of Indigenous Peoples. With many facilitators as experts in their fields, ILDI is able to offer a great deal of customized training, including Governance Requisites for Leaders, Strategic Planning, Mediation, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Board Training, How Government Works, and our Online E-Learning Canadian Indigenous Culture Training: Truth and Reconciliation Edition. For more information and to find out how ILDI can customize training for your organization or community, contact info@ildii.ca or visit ildii.ca. ILDI would like to thank the Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport Hotel on Long Plain First Nation, Manitoba for the use of their space for which serves as the stunning backdrop in each photo. AUGUST 2023 | 11
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SHANNON BENNETT
Sponsored by:
JACOB & SAMUEL DRILLING LTD. - VAL CARON, ONTARIO
S
hannon Bennett talks about her mother not only being a strong woman but a strong role model. “She had five children,” recalls Bennett, “and she kept us all in line. I don’t remember one time when we were not at school or any extracurricular activity on time.” She adds with a chuckle, “I’ve never had to be stressed about being late for anything because there is no stress attached to getting somewhere on time.” Respect was also an important lesson. “My mother taught me a lot of respect for other human beings, regardless of hierarchy,” says Bennett. “There’s no hierarchy for anything where respect is involved.”
"I’ve been surrounded by a lot of strong women: mother, sister, nieces and cousins, so the words ‘strong’ and ‘Aboriginal women’ go together for me because that’s all I’ve known." 12 | LEADERSHIP
Family is important, and she talks about her brothers who were also a very big influence on her. “I think for me I was the little sister trying to get three big brothers’ attention,” she laughs, “so it took me 40 years but buying a drilling business, you know, suddenly they all pay attention because they’re diamond drillers.” She adds proudly, “Now two of them work with me.” Jacob & Samuel Drilling Ltd. does different types of extractions. “We say diamond drilling, but it’s because the drill bits we use contain diamond fragments,” explains Bennett. “We drill for all kinds of minerals and extract core for mining companies.” Bennett describes the importance of extracting the best core samples for the companies while being costeffective. “Every client has different needs,” she states. “Our job is to provide them with a specialized drill program that meets their respective needs. And we need to take into
account their technical, regulatory and environmental requirements. It’s a big job, and a lot of that starts with our employees.” The company is building a long-term training program for its employees, to retain good talent but also to improve safety and quality of life for everyone. “If you build respect and dignity into your team,” she states, “that spills over into day-today work. And it spills over into our relationships with our customers. So, ideally, you get customer satisfaction at every level.” “And I find it rewarding to be able to give a person a job,” she adds. “That’s the biggest thing—giving back to the community. Of course I respect all the human resources I have, but my goal is to have Aboriginal people reaping those rewards.” She talks about the support she had in building her business. “The Métis Voyager Development Fund was unbelievable. Steven Morse and Caroline Bertrand did so much work to help me. They set aside time to help us do business plans and promotional material. They did a lot of the heavy lifting. And Waubetek Business Development Corporation assisted me with grants for my backdrops and my promo stuff, which is really important for growth.” “It’s a big thing to believe in yourself,” she says. “It’s tougher for a woman, and hopefully someday that goes away. It’s tougher for minorities, period.” She adds, “But it’s more than believing in yourself. You also have to pull from those old moments and use them, and say ‘look at me—nobody’s going to beat me down.’”
#ResilientWomen
#IndigenousProsperity
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
KERIANNE GRAY
Sponsored by:
SHADES OF GRAY INDIGENOUS PET TREATS - ROSENEATH, ONTARIO
T
hrough this company, Kerianne Gray manufactures and produces single-ingredient, all-meat, natural pet treats from various proteins, such as beaver, bison, venison and rabbit. The pet treats company stemmed from her first business, the Shades of Gray Rabbitry Farm. The original inspiration to farm rabbits was based on research that Gray conducted to address food allergies that her daughter had developed. “The more research we did, the more it became a really incredible animal to work with,” says Gray. “It was ecofriendly farming, and you could use every single piece of it, which as an Aboriginal person is really important.”
"I love the people. I love getting the reviews, and I love the fact that I’m putting something out there on the market that I can stand behind, that is quality, that people are loving and seeing the results in their pets."
Through that research, she also saw a need in the pet industry for high-end protein products. Gray capitalizes on the rabbitry farm to get the protein for her treats. “We have a buyback program with our grocery stores,” explains Gray. “If they don’t sell [the rabbit] in the fourteen-day window, we repurchase it from them and use it for pet treats as long as they have frozen it before that fourteen-day period.” While there is a synergy, Gray separated the two businesses. “People like to know that their pet food is coming from the same food that we would eat, but they don’t want to know that they’re eating the same food that their dogs would eat,” says Gray. Gray immediately went to directto-customer online sales, allowing her to get a retail price without the store. Pivoting to online sales has also increased her marketing reach. She says this has been “huge for our business, and we’ve been able to put every little bit back into marketing and back into taking care of each customer.” She has incorporated her respect for her customers into her business model.
Learn more about some of the Indigenous women entrepreneurs that the Aboriginal Financial Institution network has supported at nacca.ca
She says, “We really work hard to keep our customers happy.” Gray stays in regular contact with her customers to ensure that they are getting good service. For repeat customers, she will include something extra in the order for the pet parent (e.g., a sticker or fridge magnet). In addition, to build a strong relationship with her community and customers, she includes submitted pet photos in her marketing posters. Marketing is critical. “I have a marketing team that is helping me and guiding me in where we should go and how we should do it, and then they are doing our major marketing stuff. But the everyday Facebook and Instagram, that’s us,” explains Gray. For social media, TikTok has been invaluable. For example, a recent TikTok video of a pet enjoying her product, created by a happy customer (who Gray has since hired as an employee), has garnered over 100,000 views. Gray’s biggest challenge is keeping up with demand. Due to the viral TikTok video and increased online sales, demand is growing exponentially; however, as a farmer, she is constrained by the timeline of how long it takes for her animals to be ready. To address this issue, she is considering expanding the facility. Gray has been working with the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario (IAPO) and has obtained funding. “It’s been fantastic,” she says. “I’ve spent the majority of the funding now this year on marketing because that’s really key for our business to succeed.” She adds, “I love the people. I love getting the reviews, and I love the fact that I’m putting something out there on the market that I can stand behind, that is quality, that people are loving and seeing the results in their pets. In the end, I’m super proud of what I’ve achieved.”
AUGUST 2023 | 13