The Leap from Indigenous Social Services to Indigenous Governance

Since I applied for University last week, people keep asking me why I’m shifting from Indigenous social services to Indigenous governance. Why would I leave the frontline work that I love, that I'm good at, that I’ve done for years? Why step into government and politics now, especially with the world in the state it’s in?

The answer isn’t simple, but it’s deeply personal.

For years, I’ve worked directly with individuals, families, and communities, offering support where I could and advocating within the limits of the systems in place. But that’s just it—the limits. No matter how much heart or effort frontline workers pour in, the reality is that we’re often working within broken frameworks, fighting for scraps of funding, battling policies designed without us in mind.

The issues Indigenous communities face—poverty, housing crises, addiction, inadequate healthcare, underfunded programs—aren’t just social issues; they’re governance issues. They stem from policies, legislation, and leadership decisions that, more often than not, exclude Indigenous voices.

I’ve spent years witnessing firsthand the gaps in these systems, the cycles of harm, and the uphill battles our communities face daily. Now, I want to be part of something bigger: not just working within systems, but helping change them. Governance isn’t just politics—it’s self-determination, it’s the ability to shape the policies that affect our lives, our lands, and our futures.

This leap isn’t about abandoning the work I’ve done—it’s about taking everything I’ve learned from it and using it to push for change at a different level. It’s about ensuring that decisions affecting Indigenous communities are made by Indigenous people, for Indigenous people.

So, why governance? Because we don’t just need more Indigenous voices at the table—we need to own the table. And that’s a path worth taking, no matter how uncertain the world may seem.

🦅🪶🤍💛🖤❤️

🫰🫖 JustRealRea