National Indigenous History Month: Celebrating Indigenous History through Revitalization, Representation, and Relationships

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Featuring: Dayna Jongejan, Thomas Nowlin, and Lee Hyndman

Date and time: Wednesday, June 18, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST

Audience: Open to all Government of Canada employees

Link to join: Join the event

Event description

Join us for a special Ask Me Anything event in honour of National Indigenous History Month. This open conversation will highlight the importance of cultural revitalisation, meaningful relationships, and increasing Indigenous representation within the public service.

Panellists will share personal stories, cultural perspectives, and practical advice for navigating the public service as an Indigenous person — and for those seeking to be stronger allies. Whether you’re new to the public service or looking to deepen your understanding, this event offers an opportunity to learn, reflect, and celebrate.

Don’t miss this chance to engage in an honest, inspiring conversation that centres around Indigenous voices and experiences.

Meet our panellists

Dayna Jongejan, Associate Regional Director General, Alberta, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

Dayna has been with the Federal Government for over 25 years, joining the executive ranks and her most recent department, ISC in 2016. She spent her first three years at ISC as the Director of Lands & Economic Development. In January 2020 she made a lateral move becoming the Director of Social Programs, Child & Family Services and First Nations Relations Treaty 8. Then in February 2023 she became the Associate Regional Director General for ISC-Alberta. Prior to joining ISC she was with Prairies Canada (then known as Western Economic Diversification Canada –headquarters), for over eight years as the Manager of Business Systems and Programs and before this, was with Industry Canada –Alberta Region as a Senior Economist. She has a BA in Economics from the University of Manitoba and a MA in Economics from the University of Victoria.

Outside of work Dayna keeps busy raising two extremely actively teen daughters which includes chauffeuring them to hockey, cheerleading, softball, flag football…the list goes on. Dayna is originally from Manitoba, growing up just south of Winnipeg and is a proud member of the Red River Métis.

Thomas Nowlin, Junior Policy Analyst, Indigenous Engagement and Partnership, Canada Water Agency

Thomas Nowlin is a proud Métis citizen originally from Thompson, Manitoba. Currently working as a Junior Policy Analyst for the Indigenous Engagement and Partnership team at the Canada Water Agency, Thomas is committed to fostering meaningful relationships with Indigenous people and the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in freshwater policy.

Thomas previously worked for the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program in Environment and Climate Change Canada as a Program Assistant.

Thomas graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Environmental Science in 2022. His focus area was Policy and Law, with a minor in Indigenous studies.

Thomas now resides in Edmonton, Alberta where his partner, David, is finishing his studies.

Lee Hyndman, Service Manager, Integrated Client Service Delivery, Employment Insurance, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Lee Hyndman is a Service Manager with the Integrated Client Service Delivery Branch - Employment Insurance, in the Western-Territories region. She joined ESDC in December 2015 and resides on the Coast Salish territories of Vancouver, BC. Lee is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in Southern Ontario.

Lee started in 2015 with ESDC as a PM01 Payment Services Officer and then moved to a PM03 Team Leader position in the Insurance Payment Operational Centre (IPOC) in 2017. In 2021 she joined the Vancouver Employment Insurance leadership team as a Service Manager for IPOC. As a proven leader at ESDC, Lee leverages her ability to shape and align our goals through a people first-centric lens and achieving client service excellence. She is also committed to advancing Truth and Reconciliation in the department and across the federal public service in her role as a regional Indigenous Perspectives Co-Champion.

Previously, Lee has worked in clerical roles for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and prior to that, Canada Border Services Agency as a Student Border Services Officer through the Federal Student Work Experience Program. Lee currently attends Thompson Rivers University on a part-time basis, working towards completing her university degree. In her free time, Lee enjoys playing music and spending time going on road trips and camping across all of Turtle Island with her family.

About the Ask Me Anything series

This session is part of a series of Ask Me Anything discussions that give us a platform to share stories, listen, ask respectful questions and continue on our journey towards more inclusive organizations.

As an individual, you can’t necessarily change where you live. You certainly can’t change your past, but you can adjust who influences you—through the authors you read, the music you listen to, the movies you watch, and the interactions with your community. The ‘Ask Me Anything’ series provides you with an opportunity to increase your perspective — to learn from the lived experiences of individuals who are bravely sharing their stories to help educate and move the public service towards a culture where equity is embedded.

The series also provides an opportunity for you to know that you aren’t alone. These experiences, especially the negative ones, are systemic and can happen all too frequently throughout the public service. The objective of shining this light is to continually increase the network of public servants ready to take action and move forward toward a culture of inclusivity and belonging.

Mission: Ask Me Anything series

We recognize that individuals are composed of a multitude of layers that make us who we are. We do not fit easily in one box or another and we can’t be neatly counted. We represent the mosaic of Canada.

It is important that we find value in each other’s experiences, differences, and unique characteristics. When we build our cultural competencies, we can work better together in our teams and respond to each other with relevance, empathy and compassion. By celebrating and sharing our authentic selves, we gain greater appreciation of each other and the diversity that surrounds us.

We know through diversity, that workplaces and communities are stronger, more successful, and resilient. And most important, it creates spaces of inclusion and fosters a sense of belonging at work where people feel valued.

We encourage others to have courageous conversations with their peers. Use the monthly Ask Me Anything sessions as an opportunity to have brave conversations in your workplaces with your teams.

#AMAChallenge

Here’s what you need to do:

• Invite your leaders and colleagues in your organization to an Ask Me Anything watch party, tune in live and watch the session together. Make sure it’s on their calendar.        
• Before the watch party, book an “After the AMA – Team Session” with your immediate team for the day after the event for 30-60 minutes. Share the resource guide and have these questions for discussion.

After the AMA: Team session discussion questions

1. What was my main takeaway? – Expand and share an amazing quote, story or moment
2. What made me uncomfortable/ what was one of my blind spots?
3. What is an example of systemic discrimination that I am aware of in my life?
4. What am I not going to do anymore?
5. How can I use my voice/influence? – both overtly/covertly
6. Where am I going to dig in and learn more?
7. How will I continue this conversation?

It is important that we find value in the experiences, and in the unique characteristics of each other. When we develop our cultural competence, we can work better together within our teams and respond to each other with relevant empathy and compassion. By celebrating and sharing our authentic selves, we gain a greater appreciation for each other and the diversity that surrounds us.