Column a career dream come true for Parenteau

By LAUREN THOMSON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 14, 2021.

lthomson@medicinehatnews.com

JoLynn Parenteau hopes her new column with the Medicine Hat News will be a bright spot for readers as they learn more about Indigenous culture.

Parenteau, whose mother is French and father is Métis and Cree, grew up in Peace River. She moved to Edmonton after high school, where she studied broadcasting, radio and television at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

“The thought of being in front of the camera was exciting, but my career morphed into large-scale event planning, marketing and writing,” Parenteau explained. “For nearly a decade in Edmonton I was with a seniors social service agency called SAGE Seniors Association. I did large-scale event planning and then I was a publications editor for them for years.”

Her parents moved to Medicine Hat about 10 years ago and Parenteau loved coming to visit.

“It was always so beautiful driving into town,” she said. “Medicine Hat is a river valley community, same as my hometown and same as Edmonton, so it always felt like home. So I moved here three years ago and haven’t looked back; it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Parenteau had a few opportunities that didn’t work out during her first few years here, but after starting at the Miywasin Friendship Centre at the end of 2020, she feels she was guided to where she was meant to be.

“I didn’t grow up necessarily connected to my culture,” says Parenteau. “But it’s been beautiful, because in the nine months that I have been at Miywasin, I feel like I have gained years of culture and learning. I’ve had the opportunity to make my very first ribbon skirt, guided by one my sisters at the centre. Every day working at the Miywasin Centre feels like a gift, because you meet so many people and have many opportunities to take part in different events.”

She has enjoyed working as a family liaison for social workers, supporting families in the community struggling because of COVID. She soon begins a new position at Miywasin, working as a homeless support services navigator, to help clients find housing in partnership with Medicine Hat Housing Society.

Parenteau says writing a column has always been a career dream and she’s excited to fulfil it while continuing at Miywasin.

“There is plenty of bad news to go around and relating to Indigenous affairs right now. I would really like for my article to be light and a joyful moment when you’re reading it. We have named the column ‘Miywasin moment’. Miywasin in Cree means ‘it is good’, so it is a ‘good moment’ when you read our article over your morning coffee,” Parenteau laughed as she explained.

She looks forward to highlighting upcoming events, staff members and programs at Miywasin. She is also going to feature traditional Indigenous recipes in ‘Kookums Kitchen’.

“I also want to feature local makers, artists and film and television that’s happening. I’d love to feature social media accounts that are inspiring and good news stories. I’d love to interview some local residents.”

Parenteau hopes Hatters will connect with people or businesses she features, and that all will feel welcomed into Miywasin.

“Our doors are open to anyone who’s interested in learning about different cultures, because Indigenous culture is not just one culture, it’s many languages and many backgrounds and they’re all unique … and we’re all learning, even the elders.”

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