Our Story Continued

Born and raised off-reserve in Treaty 8 Territory in Northern Alberta, I am a member of Sucker Creek First Nation. My father was a Scottish-Englishman and my mother is a ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤnêhiyaw-iskwêw (Cree woman). Mymother is also a survivor of residential schools and the ‘60s Scoop which means she and ultimately my sisters and I, did not grow up in our culture or with our family. In fact, in northern Alberta in the ‘80s and ‘90s (and much of the rest of Canada), it was not considered a “good thing” to be a native, so some of the settler side of our family tried to convince my elder sister and I that we were “white” which was good, not “brown” which was shameful.

Over the last 15 years I have been rejecting those teachings, reconnecting with my mother and family, learning about my culture and language and discovering who I truly am.

Founder/CEO Felicia Dewar