Leah's Story: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Today, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada honours the children who never returned home, the Survivors of residential schools, and the lasting intergenerational trauma that still exists today. Between 1831 and 1996, there were 140 federally-run residential schools that operated in Canada. Public commemoration of the painful and tragic history is a vital component of the reconciliation process. 

At Epicure, we are honoured to work with and learn from resilient, strong Indigenous people—both at our Home Office in British Columbia and across North America. We are sharing three stories today from truly inspirational Indigenous members of our team that were gracious with their time and knowledge on this very important day. 

This is Leah’s Story.

Growth comes when we get uncomfortable and look deep to become better than we were yesterday.

My family was, by accident or design, not subjected to the horrors of the Residential School System.  My Grandmother, whom I’m named for, married outside of her Heritage and hid her ancestry.  Our ancestry is traced back to Louis Adithomoga Denys Delaronde(1750) and his Wife, Marie Na8tjikijkikwe Wonsneswesquigigo (1761).  My grandmother Leah bore 9 children before passing away on my Dads 8th birthday.  This left his Father with far to many children and very little in the way of skills to raise them.  I do know at least one of my Tante’s grew up in Foster Care because of this.  Our Native history was never discussed other than very oblique references that I truly didn’t understand until I  was an adult.  Sadly my Dad passed away when I was 21 so I wasn’t able to ask him about those early memories. He never spoke of them, or his childhood so I can imagine that it was less than ideal childhood. The one picture i I have of him as a small child has him sitting on a very rudimentary porch of a small wooden cabin.  My Dad would grow up to become an RCMP Officer in Prince George BC. I can only speculate that he left for a few reasons, one of them being me.  Being a single divorced dad with full custody of a 6 month old baby did not meet the moral code required to be an RCMP Officer. Add in the fact that the RCMP Officers were often the ones tasked with removing children from their Indigenous Families and it would have been a huge conflict to his own morality. Especially when I could just as easily have been one of those children.   
 
As an adult, I looked to some of my family to provide the answers that were missing.  History is important.  Knowing where you come from matters.  And for so many, coming from a Culture that, until recently, has been; made fun of, terrorized, marginalized, ostracized, and subjected to being brutally stripped of that Culture, meant being deeply ashamed of that Culture. There are still so many prejudices and pre-conceived notions about my Culture that, sadly, persevere today.  These actions, thoughts, and feelings are insidious and often brushed off.  We are told to “get over it” and to “move on”.  If you were to pass me on the street, I would look like any other Anglo Saxon female. That changes when I am in a room of people that share my ancestry. 
 
Once the information of my History was provided to me, I made a commitment to do better.  We raised our children to be better.  We as a family welcome everyone. No-one should be judged based on the package they arrived on the Planet in. You cannot choose your skin colour, gender, eye colour, financial situation or culture.  The only control we have is over ourselves and that is how we choose who belongs in our space.  Those people that are kind and caring humans are welcome. 
 
By learning of our past, we as a family have been able to portray and be a positive vision of our Culture moving forward. On this day of Truth and Reconciliation, let us acknowledge the horrific actions that were committed.  Let us apologize to those affected.  We do not get to dismiss their pain and suffering because it makes us uncomfortable.  Growth comes when we get uncomfortable and look deep to become better than we were yesterday.  We need to create space and provide time to heal.  We need to hold those in power accountable and ensure resources are provided equitably to move forward.   
 
So how does all this fit in with Epicure and my decision to be a part of our extraordinary Company?  My Dad raised me as a young child pretty much on his own until he met my second mom when I was five. They instilled in me a strong work ethic, integrity, honour, deep values and the knowledge that family matters.  Epicure possess these same values.  We welcome people into our amazing company without deciding if they “fit”. If you have a need that we can help solve, you are welcome to be a part of our Company.  You are welcome regardless of your faith, culture, gender or identity. We are all family.  For 21 years, this company has given me the ability to help others, to raise our children and to share it forward.  Our children both Serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.  Our eldest has his degree in Aboriginal Studies and is the Keeper of the Sage aboard his Naval Ship.  A role he takes very seriously and with great pride.  Being accepted for our Culture matters.  I love that we as a Company acknowledge the importance of our Indigenous Culture and People.  Here we are all a part of one race.  The Human Race… 

 Leah Edwards
Epicure Senior Director