Na’kuset added to Côte Saint-Luc human rights walkway

An Indigenous leader dedicated to helping the community’s most vulnerable is being honoured by one of Montreal’s municipalities Wednesday morning.

Na’kuset, the executive director of Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, is being inducted to the City of Côte Saint-Luc’s human rights walkway.

The walkway, at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park, recognizes Canadian and world leaders in human rights.

“When Europeans came to this land, it was the Indigenous people that healed them,” Na’kuset said. “Supported them and clothed them. If you look at society now, it’s the Indigenous People that are the highest population on the street. I feel like it’s a responsibility. If I could do something, I will.”

Côte Saint-Luc’s human rights walkway, Sept. 27, 2023. (Martin Daigle, CityNews)

The Saskatchewan-born Na’kuset, who is Cree, was taken away from her family amid the Sixties Scoop and placed for adoption.

She has launched a multitude of social projects in the city, including a pediatric centre for Indigenous children (Saralikitaaq); food, shelter and mental-health supports (Resilience Montreal); and assistance for missing Indigenous women or girls (Iskweu Project).

“Really the key person behind the opening of Resilience Montreal,” the group’s executive director David Chapman said. “And it’s really her vision that Resilience be services accessible to the most marginalized of the homeless population.”

Touching tribute to her grandmother

Na’kuset attributes her success to her grandmother’s unwavering belief in her.

“When I was adopted, my (grandmother) adored me and she thought I was going to do such incredible things,” she said. “I ended up leaving home at a young age trying to find my way, and spent time with her after I moved out and she still believed in me. And there was a time when I was homeless, and she gave me such unconditional love that pushed me to help me find my Indigenous family and to get my Indian Status that was taken away from me.

“She’s not here to see what I have been able to accomplish but through the work that I do, it’s about lifting up others.”

Na’kuset will join important figures on the walkway such as Viola Desmond, Jackie Robinson and Nelson Mandela.

“Na’kuset like the other individuals that have been honoured in the last 23 years, inspire us all to try to do our best to do great things, to help others, to try to make this a great place,” said Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein.

A plaque was unveiled during Wednesday morning’s ceremony – on the eve of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Na’kuset plaque unveiled at the Côte Saint-Luc’s human rights walkway ceremony Sept. 27, 2023. (Martin Daigle, CityNews)

Some Côte Saint-Luc schools chose to have their students attend Wednesday’s event as an important learning experience.

“Having kids from schools and hearing her story hopefully will impact how they view the world and what they can do as individuals to make this a better place,” said Brownstein.

The students themselves were happy to be a part of it.

“The reason why we wanted to come here today is because we wanted to see history being made and somebody else being inducted,” one told CityNews.

“I feel like Na’kuset is a really inspiring woman in history because she basically started from nothing and built her way up in this world and started her own charity, and make such a big difference for Indigenous people all over Canada,” said another.

Na’kuset, the executive director of Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, at the Côte Saint-Luc’s human rights walkway ceremony Sept. 27, 2023. (Martin Daigle, CityNews)

For all the credit directed at Na’kuset during the ceremony, she made it clear she can’t achieve her goals alone.

For instance, she says Resilience Montreal will be moving to a new location, but they will need $6 million to complete renovations of the new space.

“We need to do better as a society, and we need to strengthen the community and that’s really what my work is. But I’m asking for others to also help out because I can’t do it alone.”