Sharing, community, and connection are just some of the words that Dave Ward has used to describe the importance of the Indigenous Culture and Wellness Centre (ICWC). A proud family man, Dave, originally from Driftpile Cree Nation on Treaty 8 Territory, is enthusiastic about bringing his lived experience as an urban Indigenous person to the centre. Urban Indigenous Peoples who are a generation or two removed from their First Nation/Metis/Inuit communities don’t often get the opportunity to connect with their home communities, outside of Edmonton.

Dave, who has lived between both worlds, means to bring that identity to the centre. “[I want to] try to share some of that experience with the urban Indigenous community who may not  have the opportunity to live in their First Nations community, and try to help them connect with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing” he said.

Dave is excited that his family will get to take part at the ICWC. His wife, Jennifer Ward, is working on her PhD in Philosophy in Indigenous Studies at the University of Alberta. “Having her lens on community engagement activities and bringing her expertise in this area will be an asset,” he said. Dave, who lights up when he talks about his family, also spoke about his daughter – who attends the Victoria School of Arts, here in Edmonton. “She’s involved in dance, she has aspirations to be an actor, and is very interested in politics,” he said. Dave wants to bring his family’s experience to the centre, to share their perspectives, and to learn from other community members.

Dave wants the ICWC to help Indigenous communities (outside of Edmonton) by offering a a consistent gathering space for Indigenous events. He is looking forward to the centre providing Cree language programs where people can have a consistent learning environment. “It’s our responsibility to try and bring these types of opportunities back,” he said, “through our ceremonies, singing our songs and practicing this process our people will be able to discover how beautiful our language is and recognize how important it is to connect us to our community. “

Spending part of his teen years living in Swan River First Nation, Dave was fortunate to be involved with the local youth group/program that the Nation offered. The lessons learned during this time continue to positively influence him to this day. Not to mention, the opportunity to play and learn Indigenous games like, Guard the Chief. “If we can bring some of those experiences from our childhood to our kids and teach them about some of our traditional games, I’m confident the amount of laughter that will take place from playing those games, is so powerful. The path that we’re on as a community, to heal, is in that laughter,” Dave said. “To have a gathering place, that we can all gravitate to and know that this is a safe place for our kids, our kokum’s and mosom’s to be at...and for us to share our games and be involved with passing that knowledge on to the next generation, would be pretty cool.”

“You know, oftentimes, our kids try to grow up faster than they should,” Dave said, “but our traditional Knowledge Keepers have teachings that help us realize what a gift it is to stay present...so, I think that when we start to share this knowledge with younger people, or just anybody in our community, it empowers them to get through some challenges that they might not otherwise feel confident dealing with.” Dave also feels fortunate to work with NiGiNan Housing Ventures, where he helps people with adult mental disabilities and mental health issues. He sees the ICWC as a unique venue where his clients can be warmly welcomed into the community. “It will help them make connections [with] role models [in the community], making it truly a place for everyone. Not just urban Indigenous folks, but people coming in from the Nations,” Dave said, “having a place to be who they are, be accepted, and be part of the urban Indigenous community.”

As an ICWC committee member, Dave shares the responsibility of implementing a model of Indigenous governance that he feels very passionate about. The model is a collective effort that takes advice and feedback from the entire community. It is a system that takes time, but in Dave’s opinion, offers more value to community members. “Our Elders told us not to rush this,” Dave said, “it’s just like ceremony – it takes time to understand why every step of the way happens the way it does.”