With a crew of nine flight attendants and pilot, all with Indigenous heritage, on 27 APR an Air Canada Boeing 777 had onboard numerous members of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) from across BC and the Yukon travelling to the 8th Annual FNMPC Conference.
Prior to flight boarding, a symbolic Indigenous cedar brushing onboard the aircraft was carried out by Mary Point, Director, Indigenous Relations at Vancouver Airport Authority, followed by welcoming remarks by Mary, Jim Hemsworth from Air Canada, and Steve Saddleback from the FNMPC. Mary Point then sang the traditional Musqueam Paddle Song, signifying cultural connection, a welcome to all, and a blessing before an important journey, before leading passengers down to board the aircraft.
Jim Sa’ke’j Hemsworth is a member of the Mi’gmaq Nation and he is Air Canada’s Manager, Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation. Jim along with the Indigenous employee resource group at Air Canada work to advance initiatives such as career outreach, education and honouring Indigenous cultures.
One such collaboration is with the FNMPC which is a non-profit organization supporting its First Nations members with tools to advance economic growth, environmental support and public policy improvements. As part of this collaboration, Flight AC34 celebrated Air Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, highlighting the professional achievements of Indigenous employees in aviation.
“This flight fosters Indigenous inclusion, honours Indigenous cultures, and sets an example for supporting Indigenous participation in industries. It stands as a strong statement of progress and inclusion,” stated Jim.
Giving thanks and gratitude is a cornerstone of Indigenous communities when coming together. In this spirit, Jim’s gave thanks before the flight:
“To the people of the Musqueam Nation, thank you for welcoming us onto your lands. Your cedar blessing and the songs you have shared with us are gifts we deeply appreciate.
“A heartfelt thanks to our Indigenous crew for ensuring our safety throughout today’s journey. In doing so, you honour a legacy of care and protection that our ancestors upheld when the first Europeans arrived on these lands—a tradition we continue proudly each day at Air Canada.
“To those who came before us, we owe our existence, and to the next seven generations, may our work be as meaningful and impactful as those who preceded us.
“I am thankful for all of this, so I say Wela’lioq and Nmultis.”
Air Canada recognizes that Reconciliation is a journey, and we are committed to learning, consulting and fostering respectful relationships. Air Canada’s network crosses many treaty lands as well as unceded and traditional territories of Indigenous nations and governments on Turtle Island (in other words, North America). In doing so, Air Canada recognizes the ancestral and traditional lands of the Indigenous Peoples we fly over.
