(Ottawa, ON) July 6, 2022 – In this episode of Roots and Hoots, host Gordon Spence is pleased to be joined by Jennifer Wood. Jennifer is Ojibway from the Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation, located on the beautiful and bountiful Niagara escarpment. Currently, Jennifer resides in Winnipeg where she works with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) as the Commemoration and Community Engagement Liaison Officer. In this interview, you will hear Jennifer speak of the importance of truth telling and understanding. With her infectious spirit and positivity, you will hear her joy and gratitude which have been key ingredients in her career accomplishments, among other aspects of her life.

Jennifer is a Survivor of the Residential School System. At a young age, her family moved to Bunibonibee Cree Nation, which she calls one of the most beautiful communities in all the North. Attending Portage la Prairie Residential School was a far way from home and though the time away from family was lonely and difficult, she speaks of the lifelong friendships made, a sports tournament she helped organize, and even the story of meeting her future husband there.

As the years went on, Jennifer often found work that contributed to the protection of Indigenous rights across the country. Jennifer speaks of her privilege in working as political assistant to the late great Elijah Harper. Learning from his example as a leader – a responsibility he carried carefully – she speaks of the important messages he shared of connecting to the land you’re from and always advocating for the youth. Above all, she speaks of his ability to speak truth to power, no matter how hard it could be to hear.

As their conversation winds down, Jennifer says hope is the anchor to everything and with that, she oversees the Na-mi-quai-ni-mak (I remember them) community support fund at NCTR. Jennifer leads with joy in her heart, and helps us to see what the truth is intended to do and to be: to set all who are a part of it and acknowledge it, free. Truth is the pathway to Reconciliation and in Reconciliation there is hope and healing.

The LHF is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada for over 21 years. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential and Day School Systems and subsequent Sixties Scoop on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) Survivors, their descendants, and their communities to promote hope and healing in Canada. The LHF works to encourage people to address discrimination and injustice in order to contribute to the equity, dignity, and respectful treatment of Indigenous Peoples and to foster Reconciliation.

The LHF has more than 25 educational exhibitions that promote awareness of Indigenous history that are free to borrow and is working on making exhibitions available online. LHF also has curriculum for K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training, and Podcasts all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, etc. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding so as to eliminate racism against Indigenous Peoples.