by Charlene Barney
My name is Charlene Marie Barney. I am from the St’at’imc Nation in Lillooet. I have worked at an urban Aboriginal agency in Victoria, Songhees Territory, for almost 20 years.
This story is about my journey to finally feeling heard and seen as an Indigenous self-advocacy leader in B.C.
I have been involved with Community Living BC (CLBC) from the beginning. This means I was on the steering committee that created CLBC as a Crown corporation in 2005.
I was receiving support from one of the local day programs here in Victoria when I was asked if I wanted to participate in a collaboration to create something different for people with intellectual diverse abilities. I was 36 years old at the time.
I remember lots of flip charts and sticky notes and being asked what we would like to see different. There were service providers and family members and other people with disabilities in the room.
We said we wanted to be independent of the Ministry of Children and Family Development. We wanted to be seen and treated and served as adults who could work and live and be independent in community as much as possible. We wanted to have a bigger voice in our lives and be seen as self-advocates.
It has taken a long time for me to feel like we are getting close to that vision.
I am an Indigenous self-advocate who wants to help other people get the services and supports they need to access independence in their community. I care about helping people have confidence and self-esteem to live the life they desire.
It is important to me that we are creating a path to understanding and acknowledging there are Indigenous people with disabilities who need support from others who share an Indigenous background. This is important to protect us as a people and for us to continue living in the way that makes sense to us and that respects who we are.
Charlene took part in the signing of CLBC’s Commitment to Reconciliation at a historic and moving ceremony.
Finally, many years later, I can say I feel part of something where I feel heard. We are being acknowledged and respected at CLBC and within the community living movement as Indigenous people. I am on the CLBC Indigenous and Provincial Advisory Committees. I also belong to BC People First and People First of Canada.
In June of last year, I took part in the CLBC Commitment to Reconciliation signing ceremony. This was 18 years after CLBC came into existence. It was an important day for me. Now Indigenous communities and leaders can start to work together with CLBC in a trusting way.
I feel like we are finally being looked at as individuals in our cultural way and people are wanting to work and support us in that way.
I was not prepared for how I would l feel at the Reconciliation signing. I did not realize how much it would take out of me emotionally. But I knew how important it was and how it connected my journey from the beginning.
The day was powerful. I felt like my family was behind me, supporting me spiritually. I felt that the most when I was drumming at the front of the room with the elders holding the drum for me.
That made it feel like a for sure thing. It was real. We were being heard. My hope is that we work together always in strength and honesty and with love and kindness.
My heart will remember that day for a long time.
Charlene joined the Moose Hide Campaign walk on May 16 to take
a stand against violence towards Indigenous women and children.
