Miywasin Moment: MHPS Be The Change Award honours First Nation mentor

By JoLynn Parenteau on May 25, 2022.

On International Women’s Day this year, the Medicine Hat Police Service made a pledge: to celebrate the achievements of individuals in the community who lead, inspire and motivate women and work to break the bias toward advancing gender equity.

On May 16, longtime Medicine Hat-area resident Brenda Mercer was bestowed with that honour surrounded by friends, family and colleagues at Inspire Café on Third Street.

MHPS Sergeant Carissa Witkowski shared with the assembled crowd why Mercer was so deserving.

“Brenda holds a position of high esteem in Medicine Hat for her leadership through wholistic approaches that strengthen women’s bonds to family and community.”

Mercer first connected with MHPS in 2019 through her work as Miywasin Friendship Centre’s cultural co-ordinator. Police members often join Miywasin’s public events to stand in solidarity with the Indigenous community, such as last June’s vigil for the 215 recovered children found in Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops, and September 30’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Mercer also holds a seat on the MHPS Chief’s Indigenous Advisory Board, where her thoughtful recommendations for new initiatives are well received.

MHPS Insp. Brent Secondiak says Mercer’s relationships she builds are even more impactful than her many projects.

“When (MHPS) first reached out to her a few years ago, she was just so open and welcoming,” recalls Secondiak. “It’s all really about relationships in policing. Brenda has really been an advocate for the Miywasin Centre and First Nations Peoples. She’s inspiring to be around and that’s really why she was nominated.”

In her award presentation speech, Sgt. Witkowski described how Mercer, who is Lakota-Sioux from Standing Buffalo First Nation, makes a lasting impact in our community.

“Through passion and humility, Brenda regularly shares her own story of how the residential school system and Sixties Scoop (adoption of Indigenous children into Caucasian households) has affected her life and those of her biological family,” said Sgt. Witkowski. “Through Brenda’s own journey of healing and learning, she has chosen to be an advocate for change and to work with Indigenous people, especially women, through encouragement and support of self-empowerment.

“Brenda’s story and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next is a practice of love.”

“I really like telling my story and public speaking because then people have the opportunity to ask questions afterwards,” said Mercer.

Building warm relationships with Hatters keeps Mercer engaged with the community.

“My favourite ways to connect are during workshops and really working hands-on with people,” shares Mercer. “Working at Miywasin has really given me the opportunity to not only network but to build new friendships.”

Interacting with wide age groups brings balance for Mercer.

“I’m 58, but I feel like I’m 40. The mostly young women I work with at Miywasin Centre inspire me to keep that youthfulness inside me,” says Mercer. “Working with older people in the community, they have so much experience. That’s what each person brings into my life.”

“Brenda is very good at building connections between people,” said Carla Smith, a friend in attendance at the award ceremony. “She always goes out of her way to tell people the positive things she sees in them.”

South Country Co-op’s Carmen Hudson joined the gathering to support Mercer whom she met last year.

“I just connected with Brenda on such an organic level. I take every opportunity that I have to spend time with her because I always come away with my cup full,” shared Hudson.

Each month the MHPS will celebrate a local individual who is recognized as a catalyst for change in our community and who is working to advance women professionally and personally. Nominate a strong role model via the MHPS website at https://app.mhps.ca/be-the-change-award. Nominees will be reviewed and award recipients selected by a committee comprised of women who serve with the MHPS.

“The recognition I got today is very humbling and I’m so honoured,” said Mercer, who thanked those gathered for attending the celebration and their longtime encouragement. “I’m sure we’ll be supporting each other for many more years.”

JoLynn Parenteau is a Métis writer out of Miywasin Friendship Centre. Column feedback can be sent to jolynn.parenteau@gmail.com

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