Leroy Fontaine on balancing Indigenous teachings in a modern world

Growing up with my grandparents, immersed in my culture on Chipewyan Prairie First Nation in the Treaty 8 Territory of Alberta, I witnessed both sides of what many communities face: the constant push and pull between the richness of tradition that came before you and the desire to explore the vastness of the present world.

As a young boy living in environments impacted by intergenerational trauma and the effects of the residential school system, my inspiration was to break the cycle of turmoil.

But choosing to leave my community and chase dreams and passions led me on a path of gradual disconnection. Unknowingly, I created more time and distance away from my family and traditional ways.

The dream of becoming a professional athlete sparked an adventure off the reserve, opening doors to a positive and healthy lifestyle filled with coaches and mentors. 

It wasn’t until recently, after years of feeling a sense of guilt for moving away from my community in Alberta, that I began to question my Indigenous identity. 

I asked myself how I was going to move forward, balancing both worlds: Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways.

Living in Nova Scotia, I spoke with an Elder about  the divide I was feeling. She helped me make sense of it through the concept of two-eyed seeing and a teaching of Mi’kmaq Elder Albert Marshall.

As an Indigenous person navigating the modern world, I learned to be more gentle with myself and recognized there are positives in both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing. This perspective enlightened me to the fact that my path was right all along: it was just a matter of being mindful of the balance.

This realization sparked me to share my journey through storytelling as a proud Indigenous family man.

Being ALL IN means advocating for Indigenous culture in the workplace to limit barriers of entry and educating colleagues by helping facilitate Indigenous awareness experiences as part of a committee.

For example: implementing department-wide initiatives such as the Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-led grassroots movement designed to engage men and boys in ending gender-based violence, and Orange Shirt initiative, and participating in National Day for Truth and Reconciliation gatherings, blanket exercises, e-learning modules, pow wows and other culturally significant ceremonies and celebrations. 

I believe that young minds and hearts need healthy seeds of culture and tradition to foster strong growth in cultural identity.

The book I wrote is a story about cultural loss and reconnection, allyship, cultural pride, and reconciliation  — a story of my life to share with the world.

I chose to lead by example and build a story of cultural pride and resilience for youth to see and hear, encapsulating my journey into a children’s book that would leave an imprint for generations to come. All in on culture; all in on allyship; all in on revitalization; all in on reconciliation. ALL IN.