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+ IE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH “MEET JODY HARBOUR: # JODY HARBOUR IS A € FERVENT ADVOCATE 3 FOR INDIGENOUS & KNOWLEDGE 3 AND CULTURE Incelebration of Nation- al Indigenous History Month, Metroland intro- duces readers to 30 Indige- people who are mak- ing a difference. There are many facets to Jody Harbour. an urban Indigenous woman — whose great- grandmother was Cayuga co-founder of Grandmoth- er's Voice, she is a fervent advocate for Indigenous knowledge and culture. And in her words: "I'ma mom. I'man auntie, a great auntie, a sister, a wife, a friend to many. That's how I like to tell people who I am, so that it connects me to them." Harbour always knew she was Indigenous. She credits her father, who died relatively young, for instilling that sense of identity snd pride. ler lineage, though, at one point was less clear. “What he shared with me was, u're Indian, and don't ever let anybody tell you you're not," she re- called. "I lived life always as a proud Indian not ever really knowing what he meant by that.” ‘or nearly three de- cades, Harbour found pro- fessional success in the fashion industry, among othe! Buta is time passed, she started to look for greater purpose in life. About a decade ago, she experienced a reawaken- ing that took her on a path to connect to her Indige- nous roots — researching her genealogy, travelling insidehalton.com A PLACE TO JOIN US FOR A TOUR AND LUNCH. Glen Abbey Inspired Retirement Living™ 1459 NOTTINGHILL GATE OAKVILLE CO-FOUNDER OF GRANDMOTHER'S VOICE up north, seeking informa- tion from elders about her ancestors and event tually being welcomed "home." The journey ultimately led to her passion to give love and bring light to peo- ple alongside Grandmoth- er’s Voice as guided by tra- ditional Indigenous grand- mothers, grandfathers and rural and urban el- ers. “We build each other up and we are proud to share with all people,” the long- time Oakville resident id. The Halton-wide orga- nization — which recently became a not-for-profit — provides nealing. guid- ication. through Indigenous ways of knowing.” For the past five years, Grandmother’s Voice has also been work- ing to create a cultural and heritage centre in Halton r people to return home and connect people to In- digenous world views. "We are in a time of In- digenous people rising," she noted. “Indigenous ways lation, oppression and col- onization. Now, itis time to return those values and ethics back into society and our communities so we can collectively heal." At 5: is at age her father died. "This is full circle and peo can heal areclves with the connec- tion to our roots," she said. Fé [ml] SCAN THIs CODE for more Truth Gs through Storytelling rage. Graham Paine/Metroland jody Harbour is a strong advocate for Indigenous knowledge and culture. Mississauga Career College FULLY FUNDED Personal Support Worker Program CALL NOW (905) 813-8883 to book your information session in-person or online augacollege.ca gacollege.ca This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.