Boozhoo, Aanii, Waachiye,
Kinew Kwe nintizhinikaas. Mkwa Dodem Niindow. Mchigeeng Ndonjiba
Hi everyone, my name is Lisa Mishibinijima and my spirit name is Golden Eagle Woman.
I'm an Anishinaabekwe of the Bear Clan and a band member of M'chigeeng First Nation. I have both Anishinaabe and settler ancestry and roots.
I've worked in the social work field for over 20 years in different capacities, ranging from direct service care to management, in areas such as mental health, substance use health, community wellness, youth justice, harm reduction, Hepatitis C care and elimination, outreach, and community-based research.
I've been very fortunate in my career to work in a range of settings and alongside some brilliant people.
What I was asked to speak about today is some of the people who have influenced and shaped my practice.
Three names really came to mind.
- Cindy Blackstock stood out for her unwavering advocacy for First Nations children and families in the areas of social justice and equity.
- Raven Sinclair influenced my understanding of Indigenous identity, belonging, and the importance of Indigenous voices and lived experience within social work.
- Michael Anthony Hart reinforced the importance of grounding social work practice in Indigenous knowledge, relationships, and culture.
As I speak about some of these national leaders and their influence, I also want to highlight the amazing work being done by many Indigenous social workers in my region of Northwestern Ontario, the Sioux Lookout area.
These individuals are doing fantastic, transformative work promoting health equity within First Nations communities, whether in hospitals, research, management, or health transformation.
I want to say Chi Miigwech for all the work that you do, because you also inspire me.
I hope everyone has a fantastic month, and happy Indigenous History Month.
Miigwech