We often hear of Indigenous partnerships forming, and many organizations are seeking ways to partner with First Nation communities. Often with these partnerships, we learn of the path to reconciliation, and the benefits of economic development.
These are important and valid, but often we don’t get the opportunity to learn how these partnerships can impact individuals in the Nation, their families and quality of life.
Last week, I had a Zoom call with two members of Beecher Bay First Nation, Weyla Chipps-Roy and Eunice Charles.
We wanted to meet in-person to chat, but Chipps-Roy was en route to Aberdeen in Scotland. In five weeks, Chipps-Roy will be heading home, and Charles will be heading out.
The two have been working as deckhands for Horizon Maritimes, and have been travelling by sea along the way. During the interview, I couldn’t help but compare them to modern-day, Coast Salish Moanas (referring the seafaring Indigenous warrior in the Disney film).
The opportunity came from Indigenous partnership through the spill response project at Beecher Bay First Nation. Similar facilities are in Sidney, Nanaimo, and 91原创.
The two women attended an info session in July and all members of the Nation were invited to join the program, receive education and possible employment.
“The next day, we quit our jobs and in less than two weeks we were in school,” Charles said.
Charles worked as the housing manager for Beecher Bay and Chipps-Roy worked as a specialized educational assistant for the Sooke School District.
Both of these positions were serving the community, working to support people and making a difference on a personal level.
“I wanted to better myself and now I am getting paid to travel the world,” said Charles. “Since we’ve started this, other First Nations women are looking into joining, too. We can pave the way and set an example.”
They both explained how it was a hard decision, and scary to take a leap of faith, but when I spoke with them their faces were lit up, they were so confident.
Horizon Maritimes told them that, upon completion of the Bridgewatch program at Camosun College and obtaining marine firefighter certification in 91原创, they would be hired to work on ships until the program at Beecher Bay was up and running; this is expected to occur in the fall.
“When the centre is built, we will bring the vessel home and do offshore response,” said Chipps-Roy. “We are salmon people, and we can protect the ocean in our territory, and protect our food sources.”
Speaking with Chipps-Roy and Charles, their energy was uplifting, exciting, and I could tell just how much this opportunity has meant to them.
“It’s a career I didn’t know existed” said Chipps-Roy adding that two of her adult children have also received training and entered into the field as well.
There are so many times in this world where our lives change when sometime takes the time to teach us something, offer us an opportunity and allow us to dream.
Stories like this are not uncommon, they just aren’t always the focus. Reconciliation and economic development are crucial, but stories like this remind me of the traditional teaching, “Small children grow into big families.”
When you make time for one person it will ripple, maybe not immediately, but through time you can trace it back to that moment.
