Alumni Spotlight: Sam Tsuruda

SAM TSURUDA Class of 2006 Interviewed by Michelle Noble | December 2016

W

ith a heart as big as her ambition, Sam Tsuruda graduated in 2006 as Mulgrave’s first

Aboriginal student. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UVic and a Master in Public Health from UBC with a focus on Aboriginal health research, Sam knew she wanted a career that would benefit others; thus she followed a path that brought her back to her roots. She is now working with Indigenous communities where she is fighting for social justice, working to reduce educational disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and striving for wellness and equity within these communities. Her passion for giving back is admirable, and you can feel her zeal for social justice through her words. We are very honoured to share this week’s Alumni Spotlight Series with you featuring 2006 Mulgrave alum, Sam Tsuruda.

ABOVE: Sam and her Reciprocal Consulting team.

When you graduated from Mulgrave

her company is based on mentoring

it’s an exchange of values and

and went to the University of

Indigenous undergrad students

worldviews, of experiences and

Victoria, did you know what you

who want to pursue graduate

knowledge systems. All of what we

wanted to do with your career? How

school. When I told her about my

do is centered around issues that

did your path end up leading you to

passion for working with Indigenous

are close to our hearts, and since

where you are now?

communities, and my goal for going

our work is mainly with Indigenous

to grad school to eventually give

programs and organizations, most

back to my own community, she

of what we do relates to our families

graciously took me under her wing.

and communities. The majority of

I’ve gotten to work with her and the

our clients are also connected to

team at Reciprocal Consulting ever

the fight for social justice, wellness

since.

or equity for Indigenous peoples,

When I graduated from Mulgrave, I only knew that I wanted my career to benefit others - that was the extent of it. I ended up doing my BA in Psychology at UVic, and graduated from that program in December of 2010. The path from then to my

How would you describe what you

career can only be explained by pure

do and your approach to program

intention and a series of fortuitous

evaluation?

events. I came into contact with Dr. Kim van der Woerd, who is an incredible mentor, researcher and friend. Kim’s mission is to reduce the educational disparities that persist between Indigenous and nonIndigenous peoples, so the model of

and I am grateful to care so deeply about their work. It helps that our team functions like a family around a kitchen table, where we can grapple

Well in one sentence, I strive to be a

with the ‘big stuff’ and also laugh

listener, story-teller and messenger.

along the way.

That’s maybe not Google’s definition of program evaluation, but it works for me. The research our team does is relational and collaborative;

What is your favourite part of doing research with Indigenous communities?

purpose of existing is to connect with people and the land. When I go to visit my community, the Spuzzum First Nation in the south of the Fraser Canyon, I always spend time at my great-grandma’s fishing hole.

It’s been in her family for hundreds of years, and when I sit there, I feel that she is with me. Although I never got to meet her, my great-grandma is the reason I do the work that I do, and she continues to guide me in my life. When I travel to different territories, it has become part of my practice to ask the Creator for a safe journey, and to ensure we do our work in a way that is for the greater good. When I sit down to do an interview, I pray that I can create a safe space for people to feel comfortable to share; that I treat that interaction with utmost respect and hold others’ words sacred.

These connections to the living world, the spirit world, and the land all support and guide me more than I can probably describe.

Who was a role model for you at ABOVE: Sam’s great-grandmother’s fishing hole.

Mulgrave? How did they teach you to think differently or help shape

There’s nothing quite like being in

wounded phase. However, there is

community. It is such an honour

also not enough attention paid to

to witness the work that people

the positives of this healing journey,

Lee Hardy and Antony Wilson are

do on the ground and to celebrate

and that is an equally important

two teachers that stand out. Mr.

their strengths, all while building

side of the story. Shining a light on

Hardy loved to push us to think

relationships and friendships. Our

others’ efforts and success in these

outside the box, and it was in his

communities are still in a state of

communities is definitely one of my

class where I discovered my love

healing from our colonial history

favourite aspects of our work.

for debating. (By debating, I mean

and intergenerational trauma that is at the root of so many Indigenous health issues and inequities. In many cases, we are arguably still in the

What guides you in the work that you do?

To my core, I believe that the

your perspective?

gathering data as evidence - the arguing part was not my jam). So it’s not shocking to see where I’ve ended up.

“

TO MY CORE, I BELIEVE THAT THE PURPOSE OF EXISTING IS TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND THE LAND.

”

Mr. Wilson had this unconditional

lens. With this information in a

understanding and empathy. In my

support for me. I had this belief

liberal political context, we are

eyes, these are the building blocks of

that if I came up with a good idea or

starting to see conversations and

reconciliation.

goal, he would help me find a way to

relationships evolve. Although this

My role in reconciliation is one I’ve

make it happen, which was a pretty

isn’t a specific ‘highlight’, witnessing

been critically questioning: How are

empowering feeling. These are two

various levels of government and

Indigenous peoples called to act, and

teachers who are fantastic at their

complex bureaucratic systems be

what is our role in this movement?

jobs, in part because they make

open to Indigenous world views and

I don’t quite have the answer, but

young people feel heard and that

strengths-based research is deeply

one small way that I can contribute

they have value. Beyond that, they

rewarding. It’s really about time!

is through storytelling and

encourage students to use their gifts for a cause greater than themselves.

I think every young person deserves to feel like that.

What has been a highlight of your career so far?

Why is it important to contribute to reconciliation, and how do you see your role in that?

listening – reciprocally engaging in reconciliation conversations with an open heart and mind, and creating safe spaces for dialogue. I’m also

My hope is that people understand

passionate about contributing to the

that reconciliation is something

evaluation of the Calls to Action one

that impacts the entire population

day, but that’s a whole other story.

When I began my career, we were

to varying degrees, and that we all

working within a conservative

can contribute to this movement.

government, whose priorities

I think that most people could

devastated and dramatically

read the Calls to Action or look on

impacted services and programming

Reconciliation Canada’s website and

among Indigenous organizations

be able to identify a role they can

and communities. Since then,

play. I know that we are challenging

the Truth and Reconciliation

our own team and the field of

Commission of Canada released

program evaluation to be culturally

With full disclosure, I want to

its Summary Report and Calls

responsive, advocates and allies.

say that these are my views that

to Action. This work has marked

One of our Elders, Albert Marshall

represent the teachings I’ve received

a significant step for Aboriginal

from the Eskasoni First Nation

so far. In one sentence, honouring

peoples’ fight toward justice and

in Nova Scotia, said to us, “It is

the roots of the territories that

truth telling, and demonstrates

human nature to talk about what

we live, visit and work on is an

that everyone has a responsibility

is dear to our hearts, and the

intrinsic part of reconciliation. To

to contribute to reconciliation. Our

central ingredient to life is love.”

explain that a bit more, it is a way

consulting team tries to weave the

And I think that’s the crux of

to acknowledge the ancestors who

Calls to Action into our evaluation

relationship building and connecting

came before us, who continue to

and research, and approach our

authentically with one another -

guide us, and to honour the earth

projects through a reconciliation

it’s a way for us to develop mutual

that continues to provide for us.

At the opening ceremony of the new Senior School, some of the Squamish First Nations members came to do a ‘blessing’ of our school’s iconic totem pole. Why do you think it’s important to honour the roots of our local communities?

SAM TSURUDA

ABOVE: Sam with her mom at her UVic graduation ceremony.

ABOVE: Sam and her YWCA youth mentorship group.

Acknowledging traditional territory

Reciprocity is a key value to me, and

our young people. To that end, I also

is also a way to examine our own

since I’ve received such incredible

chair the Board of the McCreary

privilege as settlers; it is humbling

mentorship in my life, I’ve wanted

Centre Society, which is a not-

to reflect on and honour the

to keep the circle going. About

for-profit youth health research

generations of First Peoples who

five years ago I began volunteering

organization. McCreary values youth

sustained themselves by protecting

at the YWCA Indigenous Youth

engagement and empowerment, and

the waters and taking care of the

Mentorship program. This group is

they took a chance on hiring me to

land that we are fortunate enough

called Circle of Sisters, and it’s just

lead an Aboriginal youth research

to call home. Mulgrave is situated on

that - a circle of Indigenous women

project back in 2011. This was a

an absolutely stunning part of the

and strong role models who get to

pivotal step in my research career,

traditional territory of the Squamish

learn life skills and cultural teachings

and I continue to try to give back to

First Nation, and that is fantastic

together. I can’t count the number

McCreary in any way that I can.

that they came to do a blessing of

of life-changing discussions we’ve

the totem pole. I would love to hear

had about the impact of racism

students’ reflections about that

and discrimination on our health,

There are some hilarious ones

ceremony and their thoughts on this

the impact of colonization on our

that come to mind, but I think the

question!

bodies and our families, and what it

cake goes to watching the school’s

means to identify as an Indigenous

production of Alice in Wonderland.

woman. This group is far beyond a

Brendan Archibald’s performance as

philanthropic venture though; they

the White Rabbit was impeccable.

As Deputy Head Girl at Mulgrave you were very involved in giving back to the community and volunteering your time. How has philanthropy continued to be an important aspect of your life?

Favourite Mulgrave memory?

are my family.

I believe there is no better investment than our children and

Sam Tsuruda, 2016