On September 30 2021, Canada will observe it's very first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A year marked by the tragic discovery of over a thousand unmarked graves of indigenous children across the country, we were forced to come to terms with the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. It is a day for national reflection on the historic legacy and owning the truth, which is critical to reconciliation.

I had the privilege of interviewing Jessica Vandenberghe, an Indigenous Professional Engineer, Industrial Professor and Assistant Dean of Engineering at University of Alberta. We discussed how Canadians can collectively move the needle towards a united Canada through allyship and activism, the lasting impacts of intergenerational trauma and how the STEM community can come together to support the untapped potential of Indigenous youth. 

Jessica candidly shares her own challenges and experiences of growing up as a 60s scoop kid (The “Sixties Scoop” refers to the large-scale removal or “scooping” of Indigenous children from their homes, communities and families of birth through the 1960s, and their subsequent adoption into predominantly non-Indigenous, middle-class families across the United States and Canada). I have personally learned a lot from Jessica through our discussion, and I hope you will too. 

Jessica has worked in the oilsands, mining, regulatory, infrastructure, and consulting industries. She holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and a M.Sc. in Chemical and Mining Engineering, both from the University of Alberta. She also has her own consulting firm, Guiding Star Consulting where she acts as a bridge to Indigenous communities, works on Calls to Action implementation and TRC awareness.