How to Be a Force for Change with Jody Wilson-Raybould

Posted on Wednesday, March 6th, 2024

A welcome crowd and beautiful backdrop of the shore of the Ottawa River played host to former Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould. Wilson-Raybould spoke to a large group in person and online at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus on Tuesday, March 5 as part of the Algonquin College Speaker Series to mark International Women’s Week.

Wilson-Raybould was speaking about her latest book True Reconciliation. She addressed the roles of women in her culture and in society, about leadership and Truth and Reconciliation and how individuals can make substantive and impactful changes that will yield results.

“I was called to lead,” she said. “Leaders exist in a sphere of society. Whoever we are and whatever we do, we may be leaders. We can use our voices to act and inspire action.”

One of the main themes she spoke of was the need to be relentless. “Life for Indigenous people in our country is relentless. Being a leader requires an element of relentlessness to make tangible and real change.”

“There will be times when we are called to lead. In certain times we will have no choice that we will have to lead.”

Wilson-Raybould’s grandmother was a true example of a relentless leader. “My grandmother recounted how they would practice traditions and culture in hiding. They would have lookouts watching for Indian Agents. When they saw them coming, they would switch to Christian hymns to protect the work happening in The Big House.

“My grandmother and her generation had to toil in the shadows. They had to preserve language and culture invisibly. My main contribution was to be visible in certain ways and help make certain realities more visible to others” she said.

When addressing the current state of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, Wilson-Raybould did acknowledge that there has been significant progress and shifts in behaviour. “There has been an acceleration towards Reconciliation,” she said. She said more people are looking to learn and that accounts for more positive work being done.

“I’ve witnessed a deep desire by Canadians to do more,” she said. “[People ask] are we doing enough, are we doing the right things and what can I do to advance Reconciliation? Colonialism has been with us since this country was formed. Reconciliation has been around for a few decades. We now feel an urgency to act.”

Wilson-Raybould explained that we all have a role to play but each of our roles and responsibilities are different. She explained that while there have been many positive and considerable changes, she said there is real work to be done and to avoid token gestures.

“Focus on true not performative Reconciliation,” she advised. “Be careful with what you say because you cannot take it back. Words matter. Ensure words remain true. All actions are not equal and not everything advances or equates Reconciliation.”

She urged governments and institutions not to be swayed by performative Reconciliation, which she described as “easier, less costly and less risky.”

“The needs and challenges of Reconciliation are real and tangible and need to be addressed today. If you want to advance Reconciliation you need to know what has transpired and why.”

“There is no Reconciliation in the shadows or born out of ignorance. If there is to be Reconciliation, first there must be Truth.”

Wilson-Raybould encourages those who want to make real change around Reconciliation to become an “in-betweener”.

“Silos are all around us,” she said. “Our collective challenge is to continue to break down silos and share a story of Canada that includes Indigenous peoples. That includes telling a more accurate story of Canada.” She continued saying, “If you want to advance Reconciliation, be an in-betweener and walk between the silos.”

She said this will take courage, be uncomfortable and break expectations. This may lead to some difficult conversations.

She encouraged those in the audience to break down silos, achieve rights for all, and to be audacious and courageous.

Learn more about upcoming speakers coming soon to the Pembroke Waterfront Campus.

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