Shekoli, my name is Trudy Hill, I am turtle clan and my nation is Oneida of the Thames. (Iroquois) I moved from Ontario to work with the Aboriginal Head Start Association of British Columbia. I have been associated with Aboriginal Head Start since 1997. In 1997, we hosted a summer pilot program for Aboriginal Head Start, the program was every thing I didn’t know I needed, it felt like home. It was the first time I experienced celebrating the child and their families as Indigenous peoples. The short 8 week program led me to make a career change and pursue my Early Child Educator diploma. Aboriginal Head Start gave my family identity and pride.
I have raised 3 children, my youngest was immersed in AHS, she will be the carrier of knowledge for our family moving forward. I am fairly new to the Aboriginal Steering Committee, I learned about the ASC when I was working on an AHS partnership between AHSABC and HELP. I immediately did my research and read every ones bios and was intrigued. At the same time I was taking the First Nations Principles of OCAP course and found it very relevant to the work being done at HELP. Reasons for seeking a seat at the table: 1. I am a strong advocate for parents, I had the privilege to work with the AHS parents close to 20 years. I am a firm believer in transparency and giving the parents information needed to make the best decisions for their families. 2. I support research and have a strong desire to be culturally responsive and create a safe environment supporting Indigenous families to understand their data sovereignty. 3. I support partnerships that is grassroots lead, guiding, creating change, understanding and respecting a different way of knowing and being. I firmly believe in the Seventh Generation Principle which is based on an ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) teaching that the decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world seven generations to the future.
As an ASC member, it is my responsibility to ensure research is guided by First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples and we create a partnership that is based on the Seven Grandfather teachings of Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth. (Anishinaabe – Ojibway)