insights Five minutes with Ruby Littlechild, National Director, Indigenous Relations in Canada
Five minutes with Ruby Littlechild, National Director, Indigenous Relations in Canada
Can you tell us about your role at AtkinsRéalis ?
I am a Treaty no. 6 grassroots member of the Ermineskin Plains Cree nation in Alberta. My role is that of a bridge builder at AtkinsRéalis , which I joined three years ago. I sit on the ED&I Canada committee. I am also on the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) committee where I collaborate on the development of AtkinsRéalis ’s Reconciliaction Plan, a commitment to establish and maintain mutually respectful and meaningful relationships between Indigenous communities, our clients and our company.
I live in two worlds: I have a mainstream education and I am part of the Indigenous community. I know the substantial infrastructure issues that these nations face, the lack of trust that they have toward mainstream companies. I also know the engineering industry very well, having worked with engineers and geologists since 2011. I admire the professionals that I have had the chance to collaborate with. There are only a few Indigenous engineers, which is unfortunate given the significant understanding and awareness needed to build our Indigenous communities. That’s why at AtkinsRéalis , amongst projects such as the ground penetrating radar in several of the First Nations, a key part of our work in the communities, focuses on supporting the success of the next generation. For example, we award a $1,500 bursary to students studying to pursue engineering careers via the College of Rockies’ Indigenous Access to Engineering Bursary, as well as other initiatives.
I wish to build trust with the various Indigenous communities. I find that our Indigenous leaders are willing to listen and share their issues with me since I am a grassroots member. As a leader in infrastructure, AtkinsRéalis has an important role to play.
There are many positive strides being taken to bridge the infrastructure gap, such as Indigenous E3. It’s a partnership which seeks to support Indigenous socio-economic development in Canada by delivering projects inspired by the core pillars of “E3”, which refer to “Earth, Environmental and Engineering”.
What does community engagement entail and more specifically, Indigenous relations?
There are seven cultural teachings that elders remind their community members to live by: love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth. I use a balanced approach when engaging the various communities – remaining humble when talking to them whilst being assertive in order to help them negotiate with the various stakeholders to create social change. Some of the communities are deeply rooted in ceremonies which can help me build trust.
There is a fear in Alberta that stems from the residential schools that have failed and scarred so many Indigenous people. And that mistrust exists across the country. There are more than 600 Indigenous communities in Canada, and 1,200 in North America. There are systemic funding issues. There is also a gap in knowledge of what engineers and geologists can do.
The living conditions of several Indigenous communities in Alberta and across the country are deplorable, especially when it comes to water and roads. When my grandchildren visit my parents on their reserve, they are appalled. Indigenous partnerships can be leveraged in Canada to engage the labour force with greater inclusion. Indigenous relations can help build these communities with sustainable and equitable infrastructure, empower community leaders and resolve these ongoing infrastructure issues for good.
Are there things that you are looking forward to that you would like to share with us?
I am looking forward to rolling out the AtkinsRéalis ’s Reconciliaction Plan. I am also grateful and proud to see the eagerness and support that Erik Ryan, James Cullens (Executive Senior Vice-Presidents of the Executive Committee and my many colleagues and allies across the company have shown.
To create social change and work towards a true commitment of equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I), you need allies, champions. These leaders see the need, and they want to build relationships between AtkinsRéalis and the Indigenous communities.
Discover jobs where you can make a difference at AtkinsRéalis such as Civil engineering or Construction. Join our talent community to stay connected and engaged with us within the AtkinsRéalis Group.
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
10/02/2024
Summary
In the rapidly evolving world of energy, having the right foundation in nuclear and net zero energy is crucial. AtkinsRéalis stands at the forefront of this sector, offering abundant opportuniti
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
10/01/2024
Summary
We interviewed Turki Ghesheyan on his experience with the AtkinsRéalis Saudi Graduate Program. Tell us a little bit about yourself My name is Turki, I am an Architectural Engineer who graduated from
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
At AtkinsRéalis, we have a team of local, regional, and international experts in the UAE who are dedicated to delivering innovative solutions in the market to meet the needs of our clients. The UAE i
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
Hello, my name is Sherif, and I work at AtkinsRéalis in London. As a principal fire engineer, I'm proud to "engineer a better future" every day here, specifically as our work relates to shaping
Preview
EuropeContent type
ProjectsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
Hinkley Point C (HPC) is the first nuclear power station to be built in the UK since the 1990s. Technically complex and the country’s largest infrastructure project – our talented people from
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
Hi! I'm Alina, an associate director specialized in transport infrastructure engineering. I lead the North-West Estimating team in Project & Programme Services here in Manchester. Over the past
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/27/2024
Summary
Across the evolving landscape of the Middle East, Architects play a large part in designing and planning complex building structures that are in line with groundbreaking innovation. The constructio
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/24/2024
Summary
In the fast-paced world of consultancy, architecture, and project management, the need for forward-thinking leadership and innovative strategies has never been more critical. At AtkinsRéalis, we
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/13/2024
Summary
Hello, my name is Dilini! Two years ago, after completing my doctorate in structural fire engineering, I began practicing in the UK fire engineering industry. I'm proud to have contributed
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/12/2024
Summary
Career prospects in the aviation industry in the Middle East are promising at present with further growth expected in the coming years. Some prominent Dubai aviation engineering projects include
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/12/2024
Summary
The 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia and the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup are both set to take place in the bustling and evolving KSA. The AFC Asian Cup 2027 will mark th
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/10/2024
Summary
In the competitive landscape of career opportunities, it's essential to learn from industry insiders who have navigated the complexities of talent acquisition and recruitment. One such expert is
Related jobs
Salary
Location
Québec
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Category
Permanent
Location
Québec
Description
Pourquoi rejoindre notre équipe?Vous avez acquis ce qu’il faut en tant que professionnel en ingénierie des matériaux, en plus de posséder d’excellentes capacités en gestion de projets ? Vous êtes prêt
Reference
R-121346
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
Mississauga
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Nuclear
Category
Permanent
Location
Mississauga
Description
Director, Configuration ManagementAtkinsRéalis is one of Canada's largest private sector nuclear engineering groups. We have been providing a wide range of services to the nuclear industry in Canada a
Reference
R-121214
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
Mississauga
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Nuclear
Category
Permanent
Location
Mississauga
Description
Chemist or Corrosion Engineer Are you looking for a company that works on major engineering projects all over the world? Do you want to make a difference by improving the daily lives of communities wo
Reference
R-121097
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
Mississauga
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Nuclear
Category
Permanent
Location
Mississauga
Description
Retube Tooling ManagerAtkinsRéalis is one of Canada's largest private sector nuclear engineering groups. We have been providing a wide range of services to the nuclear industry in Canada and around th
Reference
R-120977
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
Montreal
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Category
Seasonal
Location
Laval
Montréal
Boucherville
Description
Veuillez noter que cet affichage de poste a pour but de constituer une banque de candidatures pour des besoins futurs et ne représente aucun poste présentement ouvert par AtkinsRéalis ou ses partenair
Reference
R-120792
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
Woodbridge
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Category
Seasonal
Location
Woodbridge
Description
Please note that this job posting is intended to constitute a bank of candidates for future needs and does not represent any position currently open by AtkinsRealis or its partners.Come join us in res
Reference
R-120789
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
North York
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Environment & geoscience
Category
Permanent
Location
North York
Ottawa
Regina
Description
Intermediate Solid Waste Management Engineer Are you looking for a company that works on major engineering projects all over the world? Do you want to make a difference by improving the daily lives of
Reference
R-120772
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
North York
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Environment & geoscience
Category
Permanent
Location
North York
Ottawa
Regina
Description
Discipline Lead - Solid Waste Management Engineer Come join us in reshaping the future with AtkinsRéalis. AtkinsRéalis is dedicated in engineering a better future for our planet and its people.AtkinsR
Reference
R-120771
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
Boucherville
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Minerals & metallurgy
Category
Permanent
Location
Boucherville
Description
Veuillez noter que cet affichage de poste a pour but de constituer une banque de candidatures pour des besoins futurs et ne représente aucun poste présentement ouvert par AtkinsRéalis ou ses partenair
Reference
R-120741
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Location
North York
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Environment & geoscience
Category
Permanent
Location
North York
Ottawa
Description
Senior Engineer - Solid Waste SpecialistCome join us in reshaping the future with AtkinsRéalis. AtkinsRéalis is dedicated in engineering a better future for our planet and its people.AtkinsRealis is s
Reference
R-120739
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
AtkinsRéalis
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Nous sommes déterminés à accroître la diversité de notre équipe, à promouvoir une culture d'intégration et à donner à chacun une voix égale, parce que c'est tout simplement la bonne chose à faire.
Find out more