Elder Joanne Dallaire doesn’t shy away from the truth

Since 2005, Joanne Dallaire—a Cree Omushkego with ancestry from Attawapiskat, Ontario—has been a strong voice for Indigenous Peoples on campus. As Ryerson’s campus Elder, Dallaire has helped incorporate Indigenous knowledge/methodologies into the curriculum and overseen educational events. She has also been a mentor to Indigenous students, continuing a three-decade career as an educator and advocate. Dallaire is stepping back from her role as traditional counsellor in Aboriginal Student Services, but will continue as Ryerson’s campus Elder.

At a ceremony in January, the university committed to implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Report at Ryerson University. What did that ceremony mean to you?
It represented a commitment from the university to continue to improve the quality of Indigenous education, to increase the number of Indigenous faculty and staff, and to create new opportunities for people to learn Indigenous ways of knowing. So it was a very profound, hopeful moment. To wrap the president and provost in a star blanket—that’s something that is very rarely done, and it’s not done easily.

Given what Canada’s education system represents to Indigenous communities, did you feel trepidation when you started in your role on campus a decade ago?
I’ve always been a person who knows where I’m guided to. I was thinking, “Boy, this is interesting—I would’ve never thought I would be in this role.” But I knew I was there for a reason. I know I have a strong voice; I know I’m not afraid to confront difficult issues.

Given all the changes that have occurred, is being an Elder a different job than it was in 2005?
In some ways it’s the same, but I’m delivering the message to different people in the university. Now, it’s grown to where I’m sitting in important meetings, where I’m seen as a person of my word, and can be a bigger part of how the university is focusing on Indigenous issues. There’s a saying, “Nothing about us, without us.” Decisions are often made for groups of people without them ever knowing about it. That certainly was the history of our people, so being involved on the inner-knowing is very important.

What are you proudest of from your time at Ryerson?
Never wavering from my truth. Sometimes it’s easier not to say something, and I’m very proud of myself that I always stood on my truth. I’m an extremely forgiving person, but I cannot tolerate it if someone lies to me. I don’t care what your truth is if I ask you to tell me the truth, tell me the truth. The truth has a ring to it, and a lie has a ring to it. Once that happens, it’s very hard for me to trust that person again. If the truth is you hate my guts, then that’s okay! We don’t have to like each other, but I don’t want you to pretend.