It was 19 years ago today

Nineteen years ago today I set off on a short walk on a beautiful Ottawa spring morning traveling about eight blocks from our apartment on Frank Street to my office on Cooper Street. For me it was the first day of work at the National Association of Friendship Centres and the first real salaried job I had since leaving university in August 1991. I remember the walk well, remember the warm morning, and the feeling that I was lucky to have landed a job with a great organization, especially after a winter of living on meager UI benefits. I knew then that, thanks to the determination of my friend Marc Maracle to hire me, my life’s work would unfold from this place.

And so it has. Working for the NAFC gave my crucial skills in beginning to practice facilitation, in beginning to see the true challenges of community work and in working for Aboriginal communities as an oshkebewis, an Anishnaabemowin word that means “helper of a medicine person.”. I identify strongly with that term as I often have the sense that my work is all about working with the medicine of community, finding ways to restore wellness and energy especially in places riven with conflict, fear and desperation.

I owe a huge debt of thanks to Marc for finding a way to hire me on that spring day and to my first boss Terry Doxtator and our board and staff. What I got from them was a solid grounding in skills and a generous and supportive place to practice. I consider myself a Friendship Centre success story, one of the many people across Canada who cut their teeth in the Friendship Centre movement and who have taken their skills and experience into the wider world. Everywhere I have travelled I talk about how important Friendship Centres are to the indigenous communities of Canada and I’m proud to embody that value.

So a big Nia:wen to Marc, wherever you are out there. One day you’ll find this post and receive once again the gratitude that I owe you for kicking me into the world with such fun, support, challenge and faith.