Kaykway ka kishkaytamawn (what I have learned/what I know)

We need someone who has the skills and abilities to lead with honesty, accountability and in a role of service to the community. Tresley has developed these attributes through her work with Métis Nation BC in the 2000s, and her professional career which includes office management, executive coordination and support, policy and program support, with not-for-profits, the business sector, and the provincial government in BC and SK, and for the past 6 years as a educator in the public school system.

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Tresley has learned through experience the importance of being:

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Dedicated - in 2002 Tresley became a youth representative on the BC United Métis Youth Circle, the provincial youth committee for Métis Nation BC. In 2003, the MNBC passed their constitution which provided a voting seat on the provincial board of directors for the youth chairperson. At that same meeting, Tresley was elected by her peers as the Youth Chairperson, and as Co-Chair of the Métis National Youth Advisory Council. Tresley served her term, as Minister Responsible for Youth, from 2003 - 2008. Tresley fulfilled these roles while working fulltime in the not-for-profit and small business sectors. As Tresley's family has grown, she has made a commitment to be involved in her children's lives by being a committee member of their daycare cooperative board, school community councils and as a soccer coach.

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Passionate About Community Voice - throughout the five years that Tresley was with MNBC she worked on several committees that were focused on establishing governance structures that enhanced the constitution, and strengthened HR policies for the governing body. One of her biggest accomplishments was the establishment of the Electoral Act which ensured the youth committee members, including the Provincial Youth Chairperson, were elected by all eligible Metis citizens by ballot box in the 2008 MNBC election. Tresley worked tirelessly to advocate for engagement and representation of Metis youth voices at all levels, from the grassroots community to provincial, and national levels.  

 

Culturally Knowledgeable/Involved - one of the most common challenges that face Métis folks who have grown up in a urban setting is the lack of connection to culture. When Tresley was with MNBC she worked alongside her community to hold culture camps, workshops and conferences aimed at creating opportunities for growing and sharing that knowledge. She worked with Old Ones and Elders like Phillip and Betty Gladue and Tom McCallum. In the summer months Tresley brought youth groups to SK to experience Back to Batoche days.

• Jigging - Tresley learned to jig from Yvonne Chartrand and Maddy McCallum in BC over 20 years ago, and once back in Saskatchewan, from Russell Fayant, Wilfred Burton and others in community. She is far from professional, but continues to share her love of jigging with her students each year. 

• Michif Revitalization - She began to develop her interest in language in the early 2000s learning from Philip Gladue and Bruce Dumont in BC. Tresley's grandmother was a speaker but the language didn't get passed down as is the case in so many Métis /Michif homes. In SK, Tresley's learning was self-directed, until she began taking classes from Brousse Flammand in 2020. Tresley began her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with her research focus on Michif Language Revitalization in 2022.

• Paddling - participated with her Métis local (Waceya Metis Society) as a regular paddler, even joining a river journey alongside local First Nations, and school and policing communities. In 2008 the Waceya Métis Society paddlers joined one other Metis canoe from Cowichan and over 100 First Nations canoes in the Tribal Journey's ocean canoe journey that landed at the opening of the NAIG games.

• Beader - Tresley participated in her first beading class with Sherry Farrell Racette in 2017, and has been learning every since, through community classes and beading circles with friends. Tresley still considers herself a beginner and enjoys the opportunities for visiting and self-care that come with beading.

• Harvesting - harvesting wild game was an integral way for both sides of Tresley's family to feed themselves when her parents were young, as well as her husband's family. Part of the decision to return to SK was to ensure this tradition could be passed on to Tresley and Derek's children. The Bouvier's are a hunting family, and harvest deer or moose annually. Wild game is important but so is berry picking! Tresley and her kids can often be found with Uncle Joe out picking saskatoons in the summer. Old One Joe Welsh shares his teaching from his sister Billie, "culture happens in the berry patch".

 

Accountable - through governance reform Tresley was part of the team that introduced roll call voting for the MNBC Metis Nation Governing Assembly. We all deserve to know how our elected leaders, locally and provincially, are voting on the important decisions that affect all our lives. Roll Call Voting ensures that each leader vocally/visually shows their vote on all decisions and this is recorded in the minutes. This makes certain that your leadership is voting in a way that represents our communities. Our citizens should be the ones who are creating, planning, and informing the direction of our Nation. This happens through having active community locals, community gatherings and meetings where public notice is provided, where conversation and dialogue is welcomed and expected.

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Having Integrity and Being a Professional - As an elected leader citizens will know that Tresley is acting in their best interest because there will be open communication and critical dialogue. This looks like regular, open meetings, visiting and gathering with everyone in our community and across our Nation. As much  notice as possible will be provided to our communities about meetings and events. Conversations with citizens will be welcomed. Providing a welcoming and safe atmosphere for everyone is part of Tresley's values as a community leader and an educator. Tresley wants to hear from our citizens and work to fight for what is important to our communities and Nation.

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Focused on Relationships - Anyone who has met Tresley knows her to be an authentic, kind and open individual. These core beliefs are evident in her community work and in her classroom. During Tresley's time with MNBC she was a founding member of BCs Urban Aboriginal Youth Collective, which brought together Metis, First Nations and Urban Aboriginal Youth leaders to work together. One of the UAYCs most successful initiatives, the Indigenous Youth Internship Program (formerly the Aboriginal Youth Internship Program) will be going into it's 19th year this fall with the Province of BC. Tresley is focused on positive relationship building with all of the elected leadership of the Metis Nation - SK, First Nations communities and leadership, all levels of government, and the different organizations that help provide services and fill needs in our communities. As an educator Tresley has created strong relationships with SaskOutdoors, Nature Regina, Nature Saskatchewan, Ehrlo Sport Venture and Salthaven West Wildlife Rehabiliation Centre.

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