Hon. Mary Jane McCallum: Honourable senators, I want to thank the Progressive Senate Group, or PSG, for giving me their spot today to pay tribute to the grassroots people in preparation for this weekend.

In the book Resilient: The Portraiture of Wayne Simpson, the author writes:

Never give in to the pressure to be “normal.” Normal is overrated . . . . Always be yourself and be strong enough not to care what other people think of you. Some days are harder than others, but it is always worth it. Be Bold. Be Badass. Be Unapologetic.

“Be Bold.” I believed I was special once. There was an inherent sense of worth in me from Creator. I was at home with my people’s history: stories of my ancestors living out their lives, in their own time, in their own way.

Years later, I often thought of how I had come to identify with words like whore, drunk and squaw after hearing them throughout my life. There was something impure in my being Cree.

Allowing others — even your own people — the ability to define who you are is the greatest power you can give away. No.

“Be Badass.” In Cree, this means doing what makes you strong. You are brave. You have pursued your goals despite other people’s limitations.

You have found your path. You have clarity about why you do what you do.

You have good friends. You stick with each other through thick and thin.

Your heart is full. You have overcome adversity and are stronger for it.

People look up to you. Others are inspired by your bold, fearless attitude; they trust you. I do, too.

You are unstoppable. You know who you are, where you want to go and how to get there.

Risk taking comes naturally to you. You engage in difficult conversations, learning about what affects us and fighting for our people.

Self-doubt does not exist to you. Your ability is limitless; everything seems possible.

You identify your weaknesses and are motivated to improve beyond them.

“Be Unapologetic.” This means accepting ourselves without needing outside validation. We must express who we are without fear of judgment.

This sense of selfhood is the power of etinewak — people — and esquiwak — women. That is who we are.

How do we thank those who seize our hand and pull us upward when we are at our lowest? That is what you have done for me and countless others. We now celebrate our return to our history. Kinanâskomitin.