Who You Invite Into The Canoe

There was a time when I thought about my work as something that belonged only to me. My name. My effort. My reputation. My responsibility.

Over the years,  and especially through the influence from community, that perspective has shifted. I have come to understand that how I show up is never singular. I represent my family. I represent the people who have poured into me. I represent the example I am setting for my children, even on the days they are not watching.

When I was growing up, my parents impressed on me that there was nothing more disappointing than being perceived as lazy. At the time, I understood that as a lesson about work ethic. Now, I hear something deeper in it. They were teaching me about how we carry ourselves. About responsibility. About the quiet truth that people are always forming impressions based on what we do, and what we fail to do.

George’s teaching this week brings that into sharper focus. His reflection reminds us that leadership, allyship, and even everyday presence ripple outward in ways we cannot always see.

I’m grateful to share his words with you.

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A few years ago, Teslas were highly desirable. They were seen as innovative, forward thinking, and even aspirational. More recently, many people have chosen to distance themselves from the company because of the actions and public behavior of its owner. This shift reminds us that the actions of one person can deeply influence how an entire organization is perceived. Leadership carries weight. Values matter. How someone shows up in the world does not stop with them. It ripples outward and touches many others.

In our First Nations communities, this understanding has always been present. We are taught from a young age that we are never only representing ourselves. We carry the teachings, responsibilities, and values passed down through many generations. When we walk in a good way, that goodness reflects back to our families and our communities. When our actions contradict those teachings, that reflection still exists. Accountability is woven into our ways of being.

I often think about a quote from the movie Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift. Sean is the main character, and throughout the movie he is mentored by Han. At one point, Han offers this teaching, “Who you choose to be around you lets you know who you are.” That line has stayed with me for many years because it speaks to how our relationships shape us. The people we surround ourselves with influence how we think, how we act, and how we respond when no one is watching.

I also reflect on my father’s teachings. Throughout his career, he held many leadership roles and shared lessons that I now carry and pass on. One teaching that continues to guide me is this. “It is easy to fill a seat with a warm body, but leadership requires more than that. You have to do a heart count rather than a head count. What matters most is the heart people bring into the work.”

This teaching feels especially important in the world we are living in today.

It is no secret that Indigenous peoples are often looked down upon. We see this in the rise of denialism. We see it in the ongoing mistreatment of our people within the healthcare system. We see it in the overrepresentation of our children in child and family services. We see it in the continued crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. These are not isolated issues. They are interconnected realities that our communities live with every day.

And yet, there is strength here too. Our people have found our voices. We are speaking up, pushing back, and refusing to accept harm as normal. We are fighting for justice, safety, and dignity. And we are not doing this work alone. Alongside us are siiye’yu, our friends, who are choosing to walk with us.

So I ask our siiye’yu to reflect. What does it truly look like to be a siiye’yu to me and my people? Are you willing to stand beside us when it is uncomfortable? Are you willing to speak up even when we are not in the room? Because if we are honest, some of the most harmful things said about Indigenous peoples are often spoken when we are not present.

As a siiye’yu, who are you choosing to be around you? Who sits beside you in your workplace? Who shapes the culture of the spaces you move through? One of the most meaningful ways to support Indigenous peoples in your place of work is through consistency. Consistency in values. Consistency in behavior. Consistency in how people show up. From the front desk to the back rooms, everyone must come into the work with an open heart and an open mind.

When that consistency exists, Indigenous people notice. We share where we feel safe. We share where we are treated with respect. Word travels through our communities. It is important to remember that organizations do not get to decide they are safe. Indigenous people walking through the doors make that decision. The recommendations shared in our communities are earned, not claimed.

Being a siiye’yu does not require perfection. It requires intention, humility, and courage. It means being willing to confront harmful behavior, even when it comes from colleagues, friends, or family. It means reflecting on how you show up both professionally and personally.

So I ask again. As a siiye’yu, are you willing to confront those who have wronged us? What does that look like in your work life? What does that look like in your personal life? And what does it truly mean to you to be a good siiye’yu to me and my people?

Huy ch q’u | Thank you

Wholwolet’za | George Harris Jr

George asks us to reflect on who we are choosing to be — and who we are choosing to stand beside.

His words remind me that none of us move through the world alone. Whether we realize it or not, we are shaping culture. We are shaping trust. We are shaping what our children, our colleagues, and our communities will come to understand as normal.

The question is not whether we have influence. The question is how we are using it.

Thank you, George, for grounding us in what it means to carry responsibility with heart.

<3 Kim