In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting an insightful discussion with incredible guests Kelly Brownbill, Melissa Ireland, and Heather Majaury. Together, we explored the important topic of cultural sensitivity and the urgent need to decenter Eurocentricity.

The conversation is rich and heartfelt and digs deep into how we reach Cultural Competency: Understanding different experiences goes beyond mere tolerance. Cultural competency is achieved when we truly allow others' experiences to guide our interactions. Building Allyship: Allyship starts with cultural safety and valuing all experiences equally.

Let's create safe spaces, educate ourselves, and support marginalized communities to determine who can truly be their ally. Learning and Unlearning: Society's progress begins with untangling the knowledge we've learned and being open to unlearning. Let's actively engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission work and the 94 calls to action, under the principles of allyship.

This episode prompts us to remember, that change starts with each one of us. Together, we can build relationships, promote understanding, and support Indigenous communities.

Guest Bios

Kelly Brownbill
Kelly Brownbill's spirit name, Wabunnoongakikwe, means Woman Who Comes from the East and she is proud to be WabizhashiDodem, Marten Clan. She is a member of the Flat Bay community of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Newfoundland. She currently lives near Barrie, Ontario and has been an active member of the Indigenous community in this area for the past 30 years.

One of Kelly's areas of interest is the recruitment, employment and retention of Indigenous persons working in non-Indigenous organizations. Having been employed in a human resources capacity for a decade, Kelly had opportunity to identify first hand the challenges faced by Indigenous employees and non-Indigenous management. She addressed these challenges through the development of tools and resources that effectively harmonized working relationships and enhanced employer/employee relationships. One such resource that she developed was the “Wellness and Work, Employment Assistance Programming in Canada” article, published by Canadian Scholars’ Press.

Kelly believes that enhanced knowledge is the key to successful Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal relationships, whether it be employee/employer relations or in collaborating with Aboriginal communities and organizations. She believes that it is important to provide balanced understanding of historical issues and is adept at enhancing the learner’s knowledge in a manner that utilizes humour, kindness and compassion.

Melissa ireland
Melissa Ireland is a devoted mother, social worker, clinician, and Indigenous outreach person residing in Waterloo. Since the recording of this conversation Melissa became the new director of Indigenous relations at the University of Waterloo. Prior to this post (at the time of this recording) Ireland worked as part of the Indigenous relations and outreach team at Qualia Counselling Services and as director of Indigenous initiatives at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Heather Majaury
Heather Majaury is a local actor and theatre creator of Anishinabeg and Euro Settler descent. She co-ordinates the Festival of Neighbourhoods for the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region. Heather recently created The Housing Project: Two Minute Plays, a theatre-devising project that results in a series of forum theatre re-enactments about homelessness and housing precariousness.Heather is also the force behind the Neighbours Quilt Project which is an interarts response to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 93