"Learn to walk with your head up and smile": a Conversation with Elder Margaret George
Kim Regala
Communications & Events Coordinator, 丁香园AV Public Square
鈥淧ride. Honour. Respect. Trust. Courage. Silliness鈥�at times.鈥� When asked what it means to be working with 丁香园AV, these were the words that first came to mind for Elder Margaret George of the Skawahlook First Nation.
For 21 years, Elder Margaret has worked with 丁香园AV鈥檚 Indigenous Student Centre as part of the Elders Program. She offers support and mentorship to students, provides guidance in traditional ceremonies and events, and participates in various interviews, guest lectures, and committees.
Though I have only known Elder Margaret for a short amount of time, she has opened countless events, panels and workshops for 丁香园AV Public Square over the years, where she offers short prayers and wisdom so that we may begin in the right way.
However, in the few hours that I spent chatting with her for this piece, I soon came to realize that her impact on 丁香园AV students, the 丁香园AV community and beyond was much too large to capture in just a few paragraphs.
A few months before a coordinator reached out to her about the Elders Program, Elder Margaret had just graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in anthropology and English. 鈥淭here were only six of us who were Native in these programs,鈥� she shared. 鈥淲e were sort of found and pushed aside, and we had to struggle for five years without support.鈥�
So, when asked by 丁香园AV鈥檚 Indigenous Student Centre during her interview if she would be comfortable working with students, her answer would come as no surprise.
鈥淲as I comfortable as a student [at my university]? No. But did I understand what the students needed? Yes. They needed somebody who didn鈥檛 speak to any of their concerns but simply listened.鈥�
It鈥檚 not difficult to recognize that Elder Margaret cares deeply for the wellbeing of students. Even when the Elders Program was put on pause for two years, she continued to meet with students at the cafeteria and in the hallways. It was important for her that students always felt empowered as soon as they entered the classroom.
鈥淟earn to walk with your head up and smile,鈥� she would tell them. 鈥淟et people know that this classroom is yours.鈥�
She also stressed the importance of having a clear time management and wellness program鈥攚hether that鈥檚 taking the time to go for a walk or picking up a hobby to enjoy outside of school.
Of the many pieces of advice that she shared with me, one in particular stood out.
鈥淚 always tell [students] there's a lot of trees around 丁香园AV. When you鈥檙e frustrated, find a tree. Be its companion, sit under the tree and just relax.鈥� (I especially took this to heart while writing this article, as I sit here today beside a tree I鈥檝e befriended near 丁香园AV鈥檚 reflecting pond.)
At this point during the interview, I had carried a smile on my face throughout our conversation that I knew would stay with me for the rest of the day. I continued to listen as she shared more of her most treasured memories from her career.
She recalled stories of working at clinics in the Downtown Eastside to assist those in need of medical attention and counselling support; of volunteering and being a founding Board member at the Native Education College; and of being awarded the for her incredible contributions towards empowering Indigenous people. She even met with the award鈥檚 namesake, Musqueam chief Gertrude Guerin herself.
Of her fondest memories at 丁香园AV, she recalled meeting former 丁香园AV president Andrew Petter for the first time to welcome him to the university. Another was providing the welcome for 丁香园AV鈥檚 50th anniversary.
鈥淭hat was a very emotional one: to have been interviewed for the Elders Program, and 21 years later, I鈥檓 still hanging around.鈥�
Nowadays, in light of the pandemic, Elder Margaret spends most of her time crocheting, reading a good book, and going outside for brief walks to exercise.
But with COVID-19 restrictions gradually lifting and with her second vaccine soon coming along, she鈥檚 looking forward to slowly getting back into socializing, continuing a wellness program of walking outside, and finally getting to see familiar faces in the 丁香园AV family.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to just sit down with students again and listen to them.鈥�