b"NUCLEAR ENERGYbefore Ill work with them, and youth engagement is one of them. These are the future generations. I am a grand-mother to a 21-month-old baby girl, and I am always thinking of her future. DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTING ADVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKING TO GET INTO THE NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR,ESPECIALLY YOUNGINDIGENOUS WOMEN? There is an opportunity for every type of work in the sector; we need everyone, not just engineers and tradespeople. We need communicators, healthcare workers, educatorsyou name it, we Tracy Primeau in protective gear at a nuclear facility: she has worked in the nuclear energy sector for over 35 years and isneed you and we need you to help us one of the country's few female CNSC-licensed Authorized Nuclear Operators fight the climate crisis.And we need Additionally, Indigenous participa- to engage with [Indigenous] commu- your knowledge on boards especially. tion across board representation isnities in a good way. Its important to always the lowest percentage in theme to keep the conversation goingSo get on boards! You can access DEI [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion]and keep the board educated aboutlots of free training and mentorship board reports. What I hear a lot froma communitys history. I also want toprograms through board work. It can organizations at conferences and incontinue normalizing the differentbe very rewarding. Start with what you other spaces is: Where do we findways Indigenous women lead thesecare about in your local community, these Indigenous leaders and peopleconversationsthatgentlynudgeor through your school or your childs to get them on our board? Any personforward while practising patienceschool. Start on a committee. It doesnt who has served on Chief and Council,insteadofbulldozingthrough.have to be related to the resource or a student association, or any otherComing from the trades, this stylesector to begin with. not-for-profit board is a capable candi- of communication can be a bit of a date to consider. People dont knowpivot for me.Sitting on boards isn't always a lucra-where to find us, but they are nottive decision, but you will learn so much, looking very hard. There are all kinds ofAdditionally, Ill approach these roles Indigenous leaders in this country withby engaging fully with both sidesthemake connections, and work alongside experience. Our knowledge needs tocommunity and the company. I canother people who care about similar be considered with the same respect asbring my story, my knowledge, andthings as you. See how your compa-other credentials.my experience as a woman with twonys board meetings work; maybe you pregnancies who ran these plants andcan present or participate, or listen in. There needs to be a deeper appreci- worked in these fields and express theIt can be rewarding to sit on a strong ation for Indigenous lived experiencesafety in it as I truly lived it along withboard with a good chair that gets a lot [and for it] to be held at the samemy family. When this safety messageof things done. level as having a PhD. There must becomes from an old white guy in a suit an appreciation for these experienceswho is not a storyteller, these kinds ofOn the other hand, consider staying just as much as those with a law degreefacts are less likely to be heard. Whenaway from a working board if you are or an accounting degree. Lived experi- I bring my story, theres a familiarityraising a familyand from boards that ence is a challenge Indigenous Peoplewith my lived experience, both with face in all sectors. That experience iscolonialism and within the sector.[include] a lot of unpaid and unrecog-necessary on any board. Indigenousnized labour. Be mindful of burnout. humour alone can relax people aroundWHAT DO YOU HOPE TOthe boardroom table, and its a skill thatACCOMPLISH WHILE PARTICI- Finding boards that align with your not many people have.PATING IN THIS WORK?work and life and convictions can be I believe Indigenous People should bereally important to your mental health. HOW CAN YOU, AS AN at the table when making these deci- We do this well in Indigenous leader-INDIGENOUS WOMAN, PROVIDE Asions. I want to help normalize thatship. We put family, balance and mental NEW AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVEas a practice. Its time to also makeand physical health at the forefront of TO THESE SPACES?more space in these sectors for youth.our decisions when were engaging I bring forward questions and concernsI have certain goal posts that an orga- in this work, and the resource sector that are required for these organizationsnization must be willing to work onneeds us.46A CCIB PUBLICATIONFall 2025"