Walking With a Foot in Both Worlds
Karen Bird
BDO Dunwoody LLP
SAY Magazine
September 2008
Is working in the corporate world an exciting and rewarding challenge to be undertaken or a culture shattering compromise to avoid at all costs?
It was my second year at Trent University and I was attending the Annual Elders Gathering, as I usually did. During one particular workshop, someone asked the question, “Do our people belong in the corporate world?” The elder paused and then began teaching. He told the story of an old prophecy about the ‘blue eyed’ ones – those of our people that were of mixed blood that would build bridges. He told how they will have the gift to walk with a foot in both worlds. When they are in the non-native world, they will be able to learn those ways but their spirits will always be Anishnabe. They will teach non-native people how to understand and respect our way of life. When they are in our communities, their spirits will be home but they will be able to teach us how to work in the non-native ways and prosper in a system that has oppressed our people for so long.
As an Ojibwe woman who respects our sacred way of life and traditional teachings, I understand that corporate careers are not traditional career pursuits. However, there is a time and place for them. Our people had the vision, many years ago, that there would be a different kind of warrior. There is an overwhelming need for professionals in our communities as we grow and develop more complicated strategies for prosperity. Economic development, finance, law, science, engineering, environmental sciences and accounting – professional designations and letters after your name - these are the shields and weapons of today’s warriors. Choose your weapon well and be as successful as you dare.
Karen Bird, BA in Native Studies, is a staff accountant with BDO Dunwoody LLP in Sault Ste. Marie and she is currently pursuing her Certified Management Accountant and Project Management Professional designations. Karen can be reached at (705) 945-0990 or e-mail Karen at kbird@bdo.ca. BDO Dunwoody LLP Chartered Accountants and Consultants is a national chartered accounting and consulting firm primarily concentrating on the special needs of Canada’s not-for-profit organizations, independent businesses, corporations, local governments, credit unions and aboriginal sector clients and is located at 747 Queen Street .E in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
This material is general in nature and should not be relied upon to replace the requirement for specific professional advice.
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