Last week an open invitation was posted on Facebook in regard to aboriginal issues in Hamilton. See the poster above. As I read the invitation I noticed the former UNH’s Director Janice Lewis is now employed at H.E.D.A.C. Anyway with an open mind I decided to attend the meeting in hope of learning about the aboriginal issues in this city. When I arrived at the Native Centre I was escorted to the meeting room, there was a smudge ceremony taking place so I quietly stood in the background until it was finished then the guests were invited to the food table. I didn’t know anybody in the room except Janice Lewis. I got a kick out of a few older woman being flirtatious at the the social. :) Eventually I found a seat in the back of the room that’s when Janice Lewis greeted me with a hello. In the past when she was the UNH’s Director we were basically adversaries but today no more. She wasn’t rude/standoff-ish by ignoring me nor did she ask me to leave. When it came time for the guests to introduce themselves I chose to pass by not offering any information to the group. I entered the meeting not as a UNH’s tenant or a Native housing blogger my objective was to quietly listen and understand what the committee has to report. I was a fly on the wall.
The facilitator did a remarkable job keeping us entertained
with her quick wit and apologized for being late then it was down to business. I was intrigued at the data the committee has
collected and shared with the guests ie: Housing & Mobility, Child Welfare
& Young Adults, Justice & Advocacy, Food Security. The ladies covered a large area of aboriginal
issues they had my undivided attention. Later
on Janis Lewis was discreetly helpful to my request and that alone deserves my
respect. Listening to each guest share their opinions
and comments was another highlight for me I also sat next to a reporter from the Hamilton Spectator she had a voice recording device on her lap. Nearly three hours of sitting
at the meeting my back was getting stiff and sore, I was feeling restless I
wanted to get up and move around….thankfully as the meeting came to a close
Janice Lewis said she’ll send me and the others a copy of the minutes report and other
information via e-mail. I’m glad I made
the decision to attend the meeting the presenters were open and honest with
their statistics and percentages, they have a long journey to reach their goals. Former UNH's Director Janice Lewis & I will never be best friends but at least we can be cordial should our paths ever cross again somewhere down the road.
Tk
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