ICES’ new director shares her hopes for the future of the department and the importance of Indigenous self-determination and self-governance.
Dominique Legacy believes that Every First Nation, Métis and Inuit individual has their own story of how colonization has impacted them, and how it continues to impact them today. Yet they also have personal stories of resilience in the face of colonization. Dominique encourages non-Indigenous organizations to reflect and understand the diversity within these groups and to avoid a pan-Indigenous approach.
As part of the Sickadomec community of Mi’kmaqs that lived near the Bay des Chaleurs in Northeastern New Brunswick, Dominique’s personal and professional journey has been one of decolonizing herself and learning how to advocate in the mainstream systems for self-determination, and therefore self-governance of Indigenous Peoples.
We spoke with Dominique about her inaugural role as Director of Indigenous Partnerships, Data and Analytics, and the hopes she has for the future of this new department at ICES.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and your community
A: Kwe N’in teluisi Dominique-Michelle Legacy, Bonjour Je m’appel Dominique-Michelle Legacy. I am mixed ancestry—Mi’kmaq and French-Canadian.
I think it’s valuable to understand the history of New Brunswick and the development of colonial governance and practices in the province. There are currently 15 recognized First Nations under the present-day Indian Act, but there was more than 15 First Nation communities living in the geographic boundary of what we call now New Brunswick.
The Harquail clan (Sickadomec community), which is my family, were registered to the Elsipogtog First Nation in 1868 and therefore not recognized as “owners” of our land and not assigned to a reservation system through the Indian Act. Today in 2024, my status card is still registered to Elsipogtog First Nation.
I think that every First Nation, Métis and Inuit person has their own story of resilience, and when I share my story, it’s part of decolonizing myself and recognizing the lasting impacts of colonization for my family. I encourage non-Indigenous organizations to reflect and understand the diverse history of First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples and to avoid a pan-Indigenous approach.
Q: What was your journey to ICES like, and what drew you here?
A: After completing an undergraduate degree in psychology at University of Moncton, I moved to Ottawa to do a master’s degree in health sciences. I became an occupational therapist (OT), but because of my degree in psychology, I was not what you would typically see in the profession at that time. My scope of practice was mental health, so the goal was to work with individuals with anxiety, depression and trauma, and to help remove barriers that were impacting their activities of daily life.
When I graduated, I got a job with the Southwestern Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) located in Owen Sound and worked there for over 10 years. I have no words to fully share my gratitude for that career opportunity that forever changed my life; not only was it such an incredible professional journey to work alongside First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples, but it was also a personal journey. I was given the space and opportunity to really listen, reflect and receive teachings from knowledge keepers and elders about my identity as a First Nation woman. I learned so much from the Ojibwe People and I truly made lifelong friends. I was given an opportunity to then move into the site manager role at SOAHAC and oversaw operations, staffing and partnerships. I worked with external partners on implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action and on how to provide culturally safe care.
I then joined the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health in the role of program manager, Indigenous health equity. We provided strategic leadership and evidence-based practices to Ontario professionals working in the space of maternal and child health, and I was introduced to ICES for the first time because a co-worker had done a project with ICES data.
There are two main things that drew me here to ICES: the first is the dedication and commitment of ICES toward reconciliation by formalizing a department and having an Indigenous person leading. I think that giving an Indigenous person a seat at the table where decisions are being made is just wonderful, and that’s really where we should be sitting.
Secondly, I think that ICES is leading as a non-Indigenous organization in the space of upholding Indigenous data governance principles. You can see it through the many Indigenous partners that ICES has had for several years, and it just keeps growing. And I think that speaks for itself.
Q: What are some challenges and barriers we must address when it comes to Indigenous health equity?
A: That’s a very complex question, but I’m going to speak from my personal journey of decolonizing myself and my various professional experiences solely working in Indigenous Health.
The barriers to improving Indigenous health equity are happening at a systematic level, but most importantly, I think at an individual level. Individuals created the systems, and therefore, only individuals can change the systems.
As human beings we have unconscious biases. All of us do. We’ve created them from our experiences, our upbringing, what we learned in school, and maybe what we didn’t learn. And unfortunately, we are still in a landscape where some individuals are not ready or don’t feel the need to challenge their biases. Therefore, we are in an ongoing battle of advocating for equity in systems that are sometimes led by individuals that have not truly reflected on the historical and present-day impacts of colonization.
On a more positive note, we have some wonderful individuals that have reflected on their colonial journey and privileges and have become incredible allies to Indigenous communities. I see allies every day and I appreciate them standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. As someone with mixed ancestry, I also had to reflect and position myself in a colonial context and have awareness of my own privileges. Allyship is an ongoing and personal journey. Everyone has a role to play, and it needs to be a collective effort that stems from each individual—taking time to reflect and take action. All actions count, big or small, and together we can educate and influence those that may have not started their reconciliation journey.
Q: How do you feel ICES’ work can address some of the Calls to Action?
A: I think it’s important for ICES and other non-Indigenous organizations to consider the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action as a whole. Of course, we have responsibilities in the healthcare specific actions. But what about the section on education? Or job opportunities and employment? As an organization, we have more to uphold than our area of focus. We need commitment to all Calls to Actions.
We can start to ask ourselves questions: How are we going to provide employment opportunities for First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples? What are our recruitment processes and are they culturally safe? Do First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples feel like they want to work here, and can thrive here? When it comes to language, are we using languages other than English, such as Anishinaabemowin or Michif for example.
Ultimately, I think we need to find a way to integrate Indigenous people’s ways of knowing and practices at ICES and I truly believe that ICES is committed to this endeavor.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in this new role and what are some of the first steps you would like to take?
A: I have so many things I want to accomplish! First, I want to acknowledge the amazing work that has already been done at ICES. I will be building on, developing on, and upholding data governance agreements to make sure that we are being the best stewards of data.
I am also big on education. When I talk about education, there’s the internal component within the ICES community, and the knowledge that’s already been shared through the former Indigenous Portfolio. For example, providing teachings by sharing circles, inviting elders, knowledge keepers and experts in the field of Indigenous research. Also providing ongoing education regarding Indigenous data governance agreements, processes, and partnerships. I think it’s crucial to keep building and growing internal capacity.
But what I’m really interested and excited to explore is external education. What I mean by “external” is creating opportunities for Indigenous youth and students to enter the field of research and do the good work for their communities. Ideally, Indigenous research is led by First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples, because no one can understand more about their own community than a member of that community. So, it’s about giving the tools, when needed to First Nation, Métis and Inuit People to be able to do their own research and use data as a powerful tool for policy making, funding opportunities and address inequities.
As the honorable justice Murray Sinclair famously stated, “Education got us in into this mess, and education will get us out of it.”
