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- The Citizen Voices Team
My Work and Expectations with Regard to the State Visit
by Jaime Koebel
I learned many valuable lessons through my experiences as a youth and Aboriginal advisor to the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Status of Women, during the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) days in 2001. I have learned that the value of civic engagement in forums, which may otherwise seem inaccessible to civil society, is essential to delivering a message on the reality of the issues that various sectors of society deal with on a daily basis.
When I received the request to accompany Their Excellencies Michaëlle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond on this State visit to Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica, I recognized the opportunity as one in which I would be able to speak about the importance of art and culture from an Indigenous perspective, as well as about my personal experiences as a youth delegate at many international forums, including the United Nations, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Organization of American States.
First and foremost, the deliverance of an idea as Métis as a people, recognized by the Constitution as one of Canada’s three Aboriginal peoples. Secondly, an understanding of Métis awareness and indigenousness through the arts. My experience as a visual and performing artist has lead me to understand that social and political action can occur in a safe space through the intriguing and exciting world of the arts.
The reality of Métis communities in Canada is that many Canadians are still not aware that we exist as a people with Aboriginal rights. The next level of this overall barrier is understanding what Métis means as an issue of identity, how we have contributed to Canada, and how we still contribute to the Canadian fabric. In all parts of the world, Indigenous people contribute to rich histories in their respective territories. On this visit, I look forward to listening to the issues and hearing about the contributions of other Indigenous peoples.
I look forward to meeting young people, Indigenous leaders and community members, as well as State leaders, to share my experiences and listen to theirs. I hope to encourage young people in their movement towards mobilization—from my own experiences—and I have no doubt that I will be inspired by the amazing progress in which they are already engaged.
