OPSEU/SEFPO’s Indigenous Circle recently held a selection process to fill the vacancy of the Indigenous Equity Executive Board Member on the union’s Executive Board.
Five members from across OPSEU/SEFPO’s various regions stepped up as candidates.
Following the selection process, the Indigenous Circle of OPSEU/SEFPO recommends Cristine Rego (Local 352) as Indigenous Equity Executive Board Member-elect.
Cristine’s name has been sent to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board for appointment at the April Executive Board Meeting prior to Convention.
Congratulations to Cristine Rego!
Cristine Rego – Local 352
I am a proud member of Lac Seul First Nation. I am also a proud member of OPSEU as a fulltime faculty. As such, during my time here at Fleming College I have developed and delivered a number of Indigenous courses. I have also assisted in developing and delivering a number of Indigenous courses for OPSEU. I have been a member of the Indigenous Circle. Further, I have made Indigenous issues a priority in my work career, ensuring I have worked in all organizations that have touched Indigenous peoples, ie: CAS (from front line to senior management), federal corrections (Kingston Penitentiary, one of the first Indigenous supervisors on the guard staff), provincial corrections (Don Jail), hospital crisis social worker, Center for Addiction & Mental Health (Provincial Aboriginal Training Consultant), counselling, developing and delivering curriculum with an Indigenous lens, sought after speaker and facilitator on topics such as Intergenerational Trauma, Suicide Awareness, Cultural Safety, Trauma Informed Care, MMIWG & Sex Trafficking and many more. My passion is changing health outcomes for Indigenous peoples.
I follow my Traditions, my grandfather and grandmother and mother were Medicine people, healers. I am a Masters Social Worker and commit to ensuring integrity in my practice. I teach sessions on how to make ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts, for the Friendship Center here in Peterborough, for interested groups and for Indigenous Peoples Court. I have been a Traditional Hand Drummer and with the Wabishki Makwa (White Bear) hand drummers. I am also a 60’s Scoop survivor. I practice and teach how to have Two-eyed seeing in working with Indigenous people. I have been honored with the Woman of Distinction Award on two different occasions from the Sudbury YWCA, one for my work with Intimate Partner Violence and one for my hand drumming.
I would be honored to represent Indigenous as a Board Member, be honored to share my wisdom, and believe that having experience being on the Board for Sudbury CAS would assist in that role. I feel I bring traditional knowledge with that experience.