What Being Indigenous and a Self-Advocate Means in Canada
- Sandra Pronteau
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Written by Sandra Pronteau – Artist, Small Business Owner, BCPF Member, Human Rights Activist & Advocate
June 20, 2026
What Being Indigenous and a Self-Advocate Means in Canada
Growing up as a person born with medical complications consisting of birth defects is no easy journey especially coming from a North remote community in Manitoba. In the 1960’s many of our Indigenous children were displaced and removed from their home communities of their origins. We call this the post-era of Residential School as known as the 60’s Scoops. What life has been before finding and using our/my voice. I tend to write this from a third party as I want to recognize all of our Indigenous People throughout N. America.
Then-Governor General Roméo LeBlanc proclaimed June 21 as National Aboriginal Day (now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day) in 1996.
When you are in the Child Welfare system aka MCFD is one of the loneliest places to be in society especially when being raised by multiple foster families. Can you imagine what it felt for the Indigenous children who were kidnapped by the RCMP’s/Priests/Nuns and forced to go? The era spanned from the 1830s to the final closure of the last federally operated school in Canada in 1996.
The reason for me sharing a blog here is to give some history of our Indigenous People of Canada. I will say this has also impacted our neighboring country, the United States of America. An estimated 150,000+ First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Canada, and hundreds of thousands of Native American children in the U.S., attended these institutions.
Being heard in systems that often don’t listen has created so much Intergenerational Trauma over the decade of years; we still have lots of healing work to do with the Indigenous People. This brings up our annual National event we now call June 21st National Indigenous People Day. We celebrate by sharing our cultures, dances, songs, drumming and Pow-wow cultural events. Another event is the Tribal Indigenous paddlers from all over BC and even the Alaskan join in on Journey home. The first year they all paddled at Ambleside Park on the North Shore.
It is important to share some glimpse of history and what the Indigenous People and communities are doing for healing and bringing back the traditional way of living.
Before moving to BC back in the 1980’s; I did have an identity crisis and began the healing work once I became a parent for the first time; my eldest son was born in Winnipeg although his father is Tsimishian of Port Simpson who ran away at a young age during his teens years came to MB from Prince Rupert. He was good friends with my late brother who was only 2 years older than me. I share this piece as it is relevant while living in Winnipeg, MB. This is where I learn about self-advocacy as connected ways of knowing and speaking up, especially dealing with racial profiling by medical officials. Just by one look at me they assumed they knew what to refer to about being pregnant and for my own wellness. To my surprise when they suggested I terminate my pregnancy and then consider getting my tubes clipped. I knew I wanted to be a mother and I was willing to carry through my pregnancy to the full trimesters. Naturally I did stand up for myself. Four pregnancies later I continue to maintain and stay connected to culture, community, and learning more about living in the Urban off reserve community in East Vancouver. THe Urban Rez was known for it Native housing projects and many were living in poverty or considered the young working class Indigenous families.
As young Indigenous we attended the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre for Cultural Sharing Night. There was even Sundance Daycare for the preschoolers to attend so parents can work or attend school; and some were just at home parents.
Over the years, I continued to be active within the community and throughout Vancouver at the time and even attended post-secondary for three years while raising my children and then working in between those times. I had to deal with when it was appropriate to speak up in spaces that weren’t always built for you; especially within the Indigenous community as I was not always validated by certain folks. Over time I learned to be bold and not hold back; luckily I was given the gift while growing up in MB but it was not an easy place to excel in.
Today I’m still here and demonstrating my respect, belonging, and voice for all on so many levels.
Stay tuned for more submissions; I think this feature Blog can become a regular blog within the Indigenous' community we can call “Inside with Kokum’s Corner”. BCPF newsletter.
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