Team of Indigenous Employees Saskatchewan Making a Difference

The Ministry of Social Services’ Team of Indigenous Employees Saskatchewan (TIES) is committed to creating a space where Indigenous employees are supported and uplifted.

By focusing on empowerment and connection within Social Services, TIES aims to improve both the workplace culture for Indigenous employees and the outcomes for the individuals, families and children they serve.

The name TIES itself is significant, as it represents tobacco ties within Indigenous culture. On their own, pieces of tobacco leaf are small, but together they are strong. Like tightly bound tobacco ties, the team’s name symbolizes the strength that comes from being united in mutual respect and shared purpose. The TIES team summarizes this sentiment in Cree as:

Mâmawatoskêwak: “They work together as a group; they work as a team”

Led by Indigenous Employees for Indigenous Employees

Originating in Social Services’ Child and Family Programs division in 2017, the team began as a small group of employees who saw a fundamental need to come together to support Indigenous staff. As the team grew and expanded to Income Assistance, they became determined to make positive change in the ministry.

The TIES mission is:

• to provide a place for Indigenous employees to support one another;
• to bring forward thoughts and ideas for the improvement of the work in Child and Family Programs; and
• to come together to incorporate Cultural practices in the workplace.

As a Métis woman who lives and works on Treaty 6 territory, the home of the Métis, Erin Gagne has this perspective to share: “Indigenous employees now have a place to connect, to voice concerns, to come together and support one another. We have a safe space where we can practice our culture and share our knowledge with one another, but also with our colleagues.” Erin has been a Social Services employee for 16 years and is currently a Director in Child and Family Programs.

Dana Parisien is a Cree, Assiniboine and French woman whose home reserve is Little Black Bear on Treaty 4 lands. She is also an Analyst with the ministry’s Income Assistance division. Dana explains, “TIES members act as ambassadors to educate and support Ministry of Social Services employees on the significance and diversity of Indigenous cultures.”  She continues, “I have appreciated everything this group does to help Indigenous employees feel at home in government. Whether it’s sharing knowledge and ceremonies, bringing in Indigenous speakers and elders, or hosting smudges and other events, TIES is helping make connections.”

Positive Impact and Influence

Debbie Sykora describes herself as a proud mother, storyteller, poet, author, artist, gardener and an “old one” in her culture as a Michif woman. Debbie works in the Ministry of Social Services’ Out of Home Care in the service area of Moose Jaw. She is passionate about honouring her history and is grateful to have been part of the original TIES group. 

When asked about her personal experience with TIES, Debbie says “TIES has been a community to me, it has been a space to share, explore and learn more about who I am as a Michif woman. I have developed my voice in this space, sharing my perspective, without fear of judgment.”

Erin echoes the sense of community that TIES brings to the workplace. “TIES has a huge impact on me. It’s a place of common understanding, it’s like coming home. We are there for one another, for new staff and for students.”

The impact of TIES extends well beyond its members.

Adonica Anweiler, a proud member of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and Social Services employee, reflects on the positive impact the team’s presence has had on ministry culture. “TIES has created more awareness within the workplace of Indigenous history, social issues and events while creating strong allyships with non-indigenous employees.”

TIES has been instrumental in fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace environment. The committee has organized cultural ceremonies, provided educational opportunities, and has made recommendations for changes within the workplace to better support Indigenous employees. According to Adonica, “TIES has also provided a renewed a sense of hope that there is progress being made towards the goal of meeting recommendations set out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 calls to action.”

Enhancing Indigenous Voices

Many of the children, youth and families that Social Services serves are Indigenous. The team emphasizes that having Indigenous representation within the ministry is vital to ensuring that Indigenous values are maintained and that an Indigenous perspective is included in policy decisions, initiatives and even case decisions. The ministry continues to see positive momentum in recruiting Indigenous people, with 12.1 per cent of employees identifying as Indigenous as of September 2024.

Adonica explains, “… government systems have had negative historical impacts on Indigenous people and our communities. It’s important to have Indigenous employees working within those systems, providing an Indigenous lens.”

As the ministry continues to work towards increasing Indigenous engagement and improving outcomes for Indigenous people, TIES provides an opportunity for Indigenous employees to share recommendations for positive change.

“TIES amplifies our voices and brings them to the forefront. The ministry serves many Indigenous families and needs to be inclusive. Bringing our perspective into the conversation has provided opportunity to change the discourse,” says Debbie.

TIES Expanding its Impact

Dana also wants to connect this expanded TIES group to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. They will begin with Call to Action #57 – Professional Development and Training for Public Servants. She acknowledges the progress that the ministry and government has made so far, but also says, “More can be done, and through our Truth and Reconciliation Working Group, we now have a space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work and learn together.”

Beyond the hard work of knowledge-sharing and advocacy, TIES remains a place for community for many Indigenous employees. No matter what might be going on outside of TIES, Adonica says, “we like to laugh, as there is healing in laughter, which is particularly helpful in our line of work”

TIES is making difference.

TIES – Team of Indigenous Employees – by Debbie Sykora

We are here for the same purpose
In this room
A long boardroom table and black
pleather chairs with deep cushions
We share where we come from
What brings us together
This is serious business, this sharing
It is a sharing circle meant to emulate where we come from
The very place we have occupied since time began
A point of connection
An equal egalitarian space
A sacred one
Hold your breath, can you hear that?
It is the quiet strength we hold
And as we walk through that door
We will carry it with us
Just like our namesake, Mâmawatoskêwak
We are stronger together and this sustains us
In creating change wherever we stand.