On the pathway to learning: How Christine Malone is helping City staff deepen their knowledge of Indigenous history and culture

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Today marks National Indigenous Peoples Day – a time to learn about the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

For City staff, learning about the history of Indigenous Peoples is just a click away, thanks to the work of people like Christine Malone.

Christine Malone, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist at the City of Ottawa.

Creating meaningful training​

Every day is an opportunity to create positive change in the City’s workforce, says Christine, a Métis woman with roots coming from Saskatchewan. As a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Christine is part of a specialized team working to create this change by implementing the City’s Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Plan.

In 2020, Christine helped launch “Pathways to Indigenous Learning,” an online training program to educate City staff on the history of Indigenous and colonial relations. The knowledge gained from the program helps staff to better provide culturally appropriate services and build relationships with Indigenous partners.

Christine researched training offerings available across the country, collected feedback from staff and collaborated with local Indigenous partners, including the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition, Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation and Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg. Christine’s work helped the City select a training offering with multiple modules and develop additional resources to support staff’s learning journey.

“As it is for many of us, Indigenous history was not taught at school when I grew up. This is an opportunity to correct that and learn about and discuss topics that impact us all,” says Christine. “My work was really focused on ensuring the training was meaningful and contributed to ongoing reconciliation throughout the City’s work.”

A willingness to learn​

Since its launch, more than 3,000 City staff have participated in “Pathways to Indigenous Learning.” Some teams have completed the training as a group, allowing for additional discussions and a deeper understanding of how their work may be impacted by the information in the training and considering what can be done in their daily work to further reconciliation.

“A willingness to learn and acquire knowledge is what helps us make systemic changes and build a workforce and community that is inclusive for everyone,” explains Christine.

With the leadership of the City’s Indigenous partners, Christine and her team are now developing the training program’s second phase.

The training program will expand to include modules specific to the Ottawa community, including information on the history, culture and contributions of local Anishinabe communities. It will also feature a module that highlights urban First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in Ottawa – a community of nearly 40,000.

“With this knowledge, City staff are better equipped to develop respectful and informed programs and services for all residents,” says Christine.

With the leadership of the City’s Indigenous partners, Christine and her team are now developing the second phase of “Pathways to Indigenous Learning.”

To learn more about “Pathways to Indigenous Learning” and other learning initiatives, refer to the City’s Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Plan.

Did you enjoy reading about Christine’s work at the City? Be sure to check out our story about Sheila James and her work to help the City build a more representative workforce.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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