The Blog

Follow along as we work towards systems change and help create better outcomes for kids in our community.

Say Hello to Taylor Wilson– the newest addition to the Boldness team!

September 23, 2020

Graduating high school at the age of 16-years-old describes Taylor Wilson’s personality to a T. She is a determined, independent and accomplished woman who is always looking to take on new challenges.

 

With an extensive educational background that highlights her exceptional skills and work ethic, Taylor skipped grade 8 and graduated high school a year earlier than most.

 

“It was nice to graduate early, but it felt like I was expected to become an adult right away,” says Taylor.

 

Although it was a huge achievement, she technically wasn’t quite old enough to do certain things, like open her own bank account. Nonetheless, with her increased maturity, she made it work and has lived on her own since she was 17-years-old.

 

A majority of Taylor’s life has been spent living between Winnipeg and Fisher River Cree First Nation, residing in the Point Douglas area while in the city. She is the oldest of eight siblings and is of Filipino, Ojibwe, and Cree descent.

 

For Taylor, attending university and college directly after high school seemed liked the most natural decision, however her career path was a little more uncertain. Initially she wanted to become a doctor but found that while taking an anthropology course, a new interest was sparked. It was one where she could interact with people in a less structured environment, unlike medicine or similar disciplines. Thus, began her journey into a research field.

 

The ‘aha’ moments in research are what contribute to Taylor’s eagerness and interest in her line of work. Although in research, it can take some time to get to this point, Taylor feels it’s worth it.

 

“You won’t know the answer to something right away and then it comes to you later. That’s what I enjoy most,” she says.

 

It’s also important to mention, that being the motivated and articulate woman she is, Taylor had an opportunity to intern at a research facility in Adelaide Australia for four months, as part of a university credit.

 

On this trip, she ventured over to New Zealand for one week and was reminded of Canada, which inspired her to get
more involved with her own culture back home.

 

“The Maori people are so connected to their culture,” says Taylor. “Specifically, with the youth. You see a lot of cultural resurgence with them and they showed me how to live in both worlds.”

 

Taylor is currently learning to speak Tagalog, which is connected to the Filipino language. She says the idea of learning the language and making her think differently, excites her. Taylor is also hoping to learn Ojibwe next.

 

Academics and business aside, Taylor enjoys watching reality TV and being the dog-mom to her three-year-old shih tzu, Momo. Watching the drama unfold on MTV is entertaining and so is her ‘diva’ of a dog, whom she occasionally dresses up in the latest dog-fashions.

 

When it comes to tasting new foods, Taylor is a try-anything-once kind of woman and her palate has continued to grow because of this. Filipino and Vietnamese foods are her favourite though, with Myrna’s Café & Catering being her top choice for most authentic Filipino cuisine in Winnipeg.

 

Furthermore, Taylor attributes her quiet personality to being a good listener and someone who appreciates taking in her surroundings. She is happy to be joining the Boldness team and keen to work with and get involved with the community.

 

Welcome to Boldness Taylor!

Land Acknowledgement

The Winnipeg Boldness Project resides in and works on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe), Anishinabewaki (Oji-Cree), Dené, Michif Piyii (Métis), Nêhiyawak (Cree), and Očhéthi Sakowin (Dakota). We recognize that we have benefited from and continue to benefit from colonization on the Treaty 1, Treaty 3, and Treaty 5 Territories.

It is important to also acknowledge how we benefit in this territory at the cost to Indigenous Peoples. Winnipeg has been drinking clean water for over a century via an aqueduct from Shoal Lake. In 1917, 3000 acres of Treaty 3 was declared property of the city of Winnipeg to build the aqueduct. This aqueduct was built over ancestral burial ground, to build these structures, the ancestors were disinterred and reburied. Construction of the aqueduct changed the waters significantly, causing the peninsula to become a man-made island. This now isolated Nation faced many challenges as a direct result from this aqueduct; Necessities like water, groceries, schools, and mail were only accessible via the dangerous trek to the mainland. Lives of adults and children were lost crossing to and from the mainland. Freedom Road, an all-weather road access finally opened summer 2019, over a century after displacement. This road, a testament to the success of Indigenous-led solutions, helps bring materials to build schools and a water treatment plant.

“I always think of it, even when I turn on the tap I’m like this comes from our community and this water probably contains our ancestors and the spirits of our ancestor. I think about the hardships of the people from Shoal Lake 40 who have gone through so many things for the benefit of Winnipeg’s drinking water,” says Angelina McLeod.1

Another benefit we reap in Winnipeg at a cost to Indigenous Peoples and land is the Hydro Electricity Development in Treaty 5. To optimize water movement for greatest power production the Province of Manitoba increased waterflow by creating the Churchill River Diversion in 1976. The modification of the waterflow caused flooding, shoreline erosion, and changes to water quality. This destruction of habitat has caused disruption to waterway travel, fishing, and hunting.

  1. https://www.aptnnews.ca/facetoface/spirits-of-our-ancestor-shoal-lake-40-is-rectifying-a-century-of-hardships/