Urban Aboriginal advocate earns Queen’s medal

Frances Wesley was humbled to learn that she would be a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal on Nov. 29.
“I was pretty honoured to be recognized, to be in the ranks of the other people who received medals,” said the Constance Lake First Nation member who has always called Thunder Bay home.
Wesley was one of 30 people in northwestern Ontario to receive the medal at a special gala in Thunder Bay.
According to a bio released prior to the gala, Wesley “quietly, fiercely and persuasively represents the hopes and aspirations of Aboriginal people who live in an urban setting” and is “not afraid to confront challenges head-on.”
Wesley was instrumental in developing and implementing the Thunder Bay Urban Aboriginal Strategy (TBUAS) in 2004, which has the goal of addressing urban Aboriginal family poverty.
“I’ve worked under the strategy to develop Aboriginal circles on specific issues like housing, justice and access to social services,” said Wesley, who continues to be the TBUAS strategy planner and is also on the city’s racism committee. “And I think that would be one of my greatest accomplishments: to bring people together.”
Wesley said one of TBUAS’ greatest successes has been the Biwaase’aa program, which employs five outreach workers who deliver in-school and after-school programming that focuses on proper nutrition and regular physical activity for Aboriginal children ages 7-13 at seven elementary schools.
“We’ve seen some amazing results since the inception of that project,” Wesley said. “We have children who want to stay in school, children who have excelled in school. It’s all because of the community working together.”
Wesley said there are youth who went through the program that are now involved in youth projects within the community.
TBUAS is looking to update its community plan after it hosts a forum on Dec. 12, where Wesley expects 200 people to take part, including leaders, community members and those who work with families who are having a difficult time in the community.
“We’re going to talk about the plan and the next chapter of the (TBUAS) and the next direction on where we can go from here,” Wesley said.
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal honours significant contributions and achievements by 60,000 outstanding Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life who have built and continue to build a caring society and country through their service and achievements. The medal pays special tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne.