Dear Community members, family and friends!!! My name is Kateri Stevens Sa’n and I am running this two year term for you! Eskasoni has always been my community and home; without you I would not be the woman I am today. I would like to begin by thanking my nominators. I am honored to be nominated by Susan (Susie) Marshall- a well-known and respected elder from this community. I am also honored to be nominated by Mary C. Marshall- a community member who has been a positive role model to me most of my life. My Journey: I am running for a seat in council, because I believe this is my stepping stone in life to create a better future for my people and the children. I have always been different from many people and I was always outspoken and social. I feel these traits will help me because they are essential tools that help you be represented and heard! I was lead here for a reason and I became educated to learn about myself and my people. I got educated for this community, because this is my home, these are my people, my family, my friends, and I do not believe in leaving anyone behind. I went through a lot over the years, but I understand these things happened to me to create understanding of myself and to respect our people. I have been a single mother who was homeless with two small children and nowhere to turn. I have been denied funding when education has always been my passion. I have collected welfare and lived on what little I could afford. I have been denied jobs when I knew they should have been mine. I have been ignored by leaders which hurt me, because sometimes these were the only people I believed I could turn to. I have seen rock bottom and distress, and I was so angry at the time, but I continued to pray and ask why things were falling apart. I now know today why, without these small areas I would never understand what most of our people go through on a daily basis. I wouldn’t have understood being poor, being homeless, being rejected and unheard if these things did not happen to me. I am thankful for these areas in life, because understanding is very important when you are being asked for help. Why This Community? • Because I am a woman and we deserve a seat in council and I am ready to serve you • To create equal opportunity amongst our men, women, elders, and youth in voice, respect, and understanding when I am asked for help in all areas • To work with my community as a whole • To create positive change that is created by community involvement • To be the voice for the unheard and to be there for you! • To understand our housing systems and funding systems so we can work with them and find ways to help all of our community members when it is asked for • To be there for our women because their leadership and vision is important too • To be there for our elders because they know our community and our people, and I feel they have full knowledge of this community • To help our youth work with one another and to shape them to be positive leaders who can create change if they want to • To be there for our men, the ones when feel they cannot speak to our men leaders about issues • To throw away favoritism and nepotism, because I believe if you deserve it you should have • To rebuild the trust between our community and leadership • Importantly, NOT MAKE PROMISES I CANNOT KEEP What do I have planned for this two year term? • Create a realistic action plan for my term to get these areas done and to report back to my community • Created a youth council and a youth center; a youth center business plan is already created; I want to work with youth to make it better, because our alliance will help us in seeking grants. I feel the youth council will teach our youth to be leaders and take on community responsibility to prepare them for the future of this community • To create an Elders committee, because they have years of wisdom of this community and know where we were and where we should be • To create an Women’s Governance Committee- To show women we are all leaders and give them the opportunity to put their input in leadership on what women need and what we can do together to help these areas • To encourage local purchasing in crafts through a webpage design on social media • To create a Men’s committee voice men and work with them because they are our protectors, and have just as much to offer as our elected leaders • To understand the band system, the housing system, the education system and find ways to work with them in giving all of us opportunity and finding ways to seek more money when it is needed • To crush nepotism and favoritism so that we can all have equal opportunity • To be there for you at home or at the band office when I am needed • To work with our council on working together on community issues instead of individual leadership Education: Grade 12 Eskasoni High School 2008 Bachelor of Arts in Communications at Cape Breton University 2012 Business Administration at Nova Scotia Community College 2014 Indigenous Women in Community Leadership Diploma at Coady Institute St.Fx 2014 Recently accept for my Masters in Community Economic Development (no funding available) 2014 Community Work: Volunteer work at wakes, cleaning, serving, and now I am learning to be an auctioneer Volunteered at community events when I am needed such as Our Eskasoni and parents against drug dance when I was needed Created my own program on bridging the gap between elders and youth within our community Organized events for elders and youth in our community Volunteer Mi’kmaq powwow dancing, jingle dress and fancy shawl Activism and communication when it is needed Volunteered videos on Lateral Violence, Anti Bullying, and empowerment toward success Volunteered at schools for events and organizing Volunteered and public spoke at many events and various issues Travelled to many leadership conferences on aboriginal issues so that I can network and connect with other aboriginal communities which are successful in economic development THANK YOU For Your time!! !!! MSIT WELALIOQ!
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:01:28 +0000
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