Economic Reconciliation
Presenting Organization: Cando
Description
How do businesses take action towards economic reconciliation that goes beyond checking a box? Join Sxwpilemaát Siyám (Chief Leanne Joe, Squamish Nation) for a session where she will discuss the learnings and content of the Economic Reconciliation Framework in BC, based on convenings with Indigenous thought leaders and community economic development practitioners from across the province. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of what transformative economic reconciliation looks like, and invitations for how businesses and individuals can commit to this journey of economic reconciliation. Following a presentation of the framework there will be some small-group discussions and a Q&A period.
Speaker
- Chief Leanne Joe, Squamish Nation
Speaker Bio
Sxwpilemaát Siyám is one of sixteen Hereditary Chiefs of the Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the first female Chief of the Lackett Joe Family. Sxwpilemaát Siyám shares her ancestral name with her late father, Sxwpilem Siyam, Chief Philip Joe. She is also a descendent of the Ayajusem (Frank-K'omoks) and Kwak̓ wala (Wilson-We Wai Kai) speaking families and carries the ancestral name of Q-Gee-Sea Loud, which was given to her by her Cheecheeya (grandmother on her mother’s side). She is also a descendant of the Thomas family of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation on her late grandmother’s side of the family (her late father’s mother). She was born and raised on the coastal shores of Esla7han, North Vancouver, while having close relations to her roots on the east coast shores of Vancouver Island. She moved to the Nicola Valley 14 years ago, after she met, fell in love and married N’pitkwulawx, Tim ‘Spike’ Manuel, member of Upper Nicola Band. They have a teenage son Isaac, who carries 3 traditional names from his Sylix (Skwcee), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Skw'unek) and Kwakwaka’wakw (Manłida'as) families. Her husband, N’pitkwulawx, is a traditional knowledge keeper/cultural teacher and works with youth and community to engage them in rebuilding their cultural teachings and knowledge. Skw'unek, Isaac, is their life teacher as he engages them in on-going healing, listening, laughter and patience. Sxwpilemaát Siyám currently Transformative Storyteller for Economic Reconciliation, with Simon Fraser University, Faculty of Environment, Community Economic Development program. She is extremely passionate about her work in Economic Reconciliation and hopes that she can inspire others to meaningful engage in it. To find out more, please visit the SFU CED website: SFU CED Economic Reconciliation. Sxwpilemaát Siyám also serves as a Trustee for the Squamish Nation Trust, representing the benefactors in the management of these community Trust funds. Sxwpilemaát Siyám is a Board member of her son’s former school, Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School, which is managed by the non-profit, The Society for the Education of Children with Specific Learning Disabilities and the Women in Leadership Foundation. Sxwpilemaát Siyám has a BA in Business Administration, Community Economic Development Certificate, and other related certificates and training. Sxwpilemaát Siyám authentic teachings come from her culture, language and lands of her peoples. She is a very passionate and resilient woman who is committed to being in service of her families, communities and Nations. She knows that our legacy is our children; thus, understands her responsibility to ensure that their future and the generations to come, have a more balance, peace and wellness in their lives. Whereupon, they have the tools to engage in the world in a completely different way than we have and can walk in two worlds with ease…using the knowledge of the past to make a brighter future.