Trevor Dubois meeting with Senator Peter Harder of Ontario. (submitted photo/Senate of Canada)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Indigenizing the Senate

Local social worker takes Indigenous concerns to Senate

Jun 5, 2019 | 6:13 PM

A Prince Albert social worker is taking part in an annual initiative with the Senate of Canada.

Trevor Dubois is part of a group of eight Indigenous young people who are in Ottawa, where among other opportunities they testified to the Senate’s Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.

During their time speaking to senators, Dubois spoke about the importance of properly providing social services and other public programs as well as changes at the Métis Nation and how it is affecting members.

Along with his testimony, Dubois was able to talk to officials about the release of the report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

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Dubois said governments should be serious about acting on recommendations in the report.

“It will take time, but I think the governments on all levels need to start the process, even if it’s baby steps,” Dubois said.

Dubois, who identifies as two-spirited, is a major community volunteer and wanted to be part of the program with the Senate as the work the body does will affect the younger generation.

“It provides our insight, our views, and our ideas when they’re determining, implementing and amending the policies that will eventually shape our future,” Dubois said.

Dubois added with more diverse participation hopefully legislative bodies will be able to create policy that is more inclusive.

Senator Scott Tannas, who represents Alberta in the Senate, said having young Indigenous people like Dubois involved provides the legislative body with an important point of view.

For Tannas, who sits on the Aboriginal Peoples Committee, Indigenization means senators immerse themselves in the thinking and perspectives of Indigenous youth.

With the release of the MMIWG report, the senator said the institution is very conscious of the moment.

“I think it’s a very sober period of time,” he said.

Going into the future, Tannas sees the role of the Senate as working as a bridge to improve relations with Indigenous people.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn