Change Can Happen. Profiles in community leadership: Cheryl Robinson

Central City Foundation is once again celebrating eight examples of extraordinary community leadership. We are highlighting the dedication and determination of those whose support for community-led solutions helped people in our inner city and beyond and have demonstrated that change can happen in our community. As part of this celebration, we have asked each of our profiled leaders to share with us their thoughts on leadership, community, and their relationship with Central City Foundation.

Cheryl Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Native Youth Association

Cheryl, who comes from the St’at’imc and Nisga’a Nations, has spent over a decade empowering Indigenous youth to make positive changes in their lives through UNYA’s individualized services, opportunities and supports. She is currently leading the development of the new, greatly expanded Native Youth Centre.

Q:  How does your organization help address the conditions faced by people in the inner city?

At UNYA, we work really hard to help encourage a sense of connection for youth and their families. We hope this will lead to opportunities for them through our various programs. The most important thing is creating a relationship with an individual and then helping them work toward their goals. It’s really about providing a safe space where youth are validated and empowered to evaluate the different opportunities we can offer them. There’s still a lot of systemic racism and oppression that youth face. We provide a space that is free from that. We offer opportunities for healing. We also help our youth with career options. We know these kids don’t lack ability. They deserve meaningful opportunities that provide them with the guidance to succeed.

Q:  How would you describe some of the common lived experiences, systemic inequalities/inequities and other challenges faced by the people you work with?

Indigenous youth face a lot of systemic racism. They don’t always fit in the mainstream school system. They often need support to succeed. That’s why we created our own school program in partnership with VSB. Because we know how to best support youth to succeed.

It’s important to recognize where this oppression started. The intergenerational effects of residential schools are ongoing. Think about taking a child out of their home community. Removing all their support systems. Giving them no love. Giving them no parenting. Think about the effects this would have on an individual. Think about what it would mean to their life. People are still suffering from the results of these traumas. Many have no connection to community or culture. Their lives are spent simply coping. I see reasons for hope, but it’s going to take a long time.

Q:  Looking ahead, can you share with us some of your thoughts about where you see that change can happen?

Because of MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) and the 215 children’s graves that were uncovered, many Indigenous people are being pushed to face the traumas they’ve been carrying. Progress is good, but it’s also very hard.

Q:  What are some examples that give you hope for a better future for the people with who you work?

As an Indigenous person, it’s very important to me that we’re bringing awareness to all that’s happened to us. For example, things like MMIWG. We also see more of our kids graduating and pursuing different post-secondary opportunities. Also, more Indigenous youth and families are learning their culture. An understanding of language and culture is needed to feel proud of our identity and thrive.

Also, I am thinking about things like the Indigenous language programs in the universities. This helps our people feel like we are important. It helps us feel like our culture has value even though this was taken away for so long. I also feel a lot of pride in seeing so many of our kids succeed.

Q:  How would you describe the value of developing relationships and collaboration in your work and organizations like Central City Foundation?

Our partnership with CCF has been critical in UNYAS’s ability to continue to provide services for Indigenous youth in the community. CCF helps to amplify our voice, and they’ve always made us feel like we’re part of the solution through important grants for our cultural programs. They want to help us tell our story. It’s important for us to be able to have relationships with those who understand the nuances of our needs.

Q:  Do you have a call to action for our CCF community that you would like to share?

Knowledge is power. For people to understand the Indigenous experience, they need to educate themselves. I want everyone to understand the impacts of colonialism because that will help them better understand the trauma being carried on the backs of Indigenous people. A better understanding of the impacts of colonialism and the residential schools experience will help with the healing process. It’s going to take a lot more understanding of what’s happened for true healing to happen.