My name is Aldeen Mason and I am very grateful to be living in the unceded lands of the Lekungwen, Esquimalt, and Wsanec peoples. I am Anishinaabe Ikwe from Sagkeeng, MB. I am from the Sturgeon Clan. I am a mother of two and Kookum to three. I went to the Fort Alexander Residential School as a day scholar so I consider myself to be a survivor of that system. Both of my parents and my grandmother attended residential school as well. In 1986, I started working for Veteran Affairs in Winnipeg and then took a job transfer to this beautiful island in 1990.

I began working at the Navy Base in Esquimalt. Throughout my 27-year career in the public service, I worked in the administrative and human resources fields. I have experience in many areas including the hiring of students each summer. When I retired from public service in 2013, I moved back to my home community in Sagkeeng, Manitoba. During that time, I sat with many elders which deepened my understanding of my culture. We were invited to share traditional teachings with students or at community events. I sat as an elder
with the Giigewigamig Traditional Healing Centre for 3 years. I participated in many activities such as Treaty Days, Sunrise Ceremonies, Drug Awareness, Water Walks, and Climate Awareness. Then covid hit.

I moved back to Victoria in 2020 to be near my children and grandchildren. During these times of being in our “isolation bubbles”, I took an online course and became a certified Birth and Postpartum Doula. It was during this course that I realized that my doula training began when I was 12 years old when I was sent to live with my older sister in the latter part of her pregnancy. It was meant to be. I was at the births of all my grandchildren. A few years ago, I decided to try painting after watching an online video. I love it! I find it very healing. I get better each time I paint and now feel confident to call myself an artist. I have included my culture in my artwork. I can also sew, bead, and share teachings. I hope my skills and lived experiences can help others find their path. Meegwetch.