Andy Fyon
Author
Hi!
Thank you for visiting my book website.
My name is Andy Fyon (pronounced fee-on). Because you are here, you have an interest in my book Walking Together: Engagement Lessons from My First Nations Learning Journey.
The website gives you some insight about Walking Together is all about - stories of my experiences working with First Nations people across Ontario’s far north. It is my goal of Walking Together to share with you insights about life of remote Ontario, Canada First Nations peoples and their engagement expectations. I share lessons I learned, practical tips, and many questions for you to consider if you are planning to, or are already working with, remote First Nations peoples. Much of the this book is intended for corporate audience working in government, private sector, and academia. However, there are many insights relevant to people just starting out on their reconciliation journey.
For about 15 years of my career, while working with remote First Nations people, I learned about First Nations engagement expectations, their world views, and their culture. I made many mistakes. Many First Nations people encouraged me to share their lessons, with my insights, and my experiences to raise awareness and understanding about engagement with remote First Nations. Walking Together is that resource.
My hope, after reading and absorbing the community engagement lessons I learned, the humorous, mysterious, and yes, even the emotionally taxing experiences I and my team faced, that I helped dispell fears you may have about engaging with remote First Nations. I also hope I have challenged you to think about your personal or corporate First Nations engagement strategy, and related processes and practices. But, most importantly, I hope I have left you with the confidence, some tips and tools, and the encouragement to work together with remote First Nations people, regardless of your job title or your employment sector.
Walking Together: Engagement Lessons from My First Nations Learning Journey
While working with remote First Nations people, I discovered my own ignorance of the historical relationships between some institutions, Canadian governments, and First Nations people. I discovered my own ignorance of what meaningful engagement with remote First Nations people meant. I made many many mistakes as I learned from the remote First Nations people across northern Ontario. My experiences left me a range of feelings, including humour, insight, at times bewildered, always gratified, and sometimes emotionally exhausted, but it was always a learning experience. No doubt, if you are working or planning to work in a remote First Nations homeland, but you feel ill-equiped, ill-prepared, possibly even fearful of engaging with remote First Nations.