Interview with CFAR Member Anne Harding
February 8th, 2021 | Sandra Sutter
On November 12, 2020, Luticia Miller had the deep pleasure of interviewing one of CFARs newer members, Anne Harding. Having worked 15 years in Indigenous Relations Anne runs the consulting firm Forum Community Relations, where her focus is on ‘catalyzing better communities, one human at a time.’ In addition, she sits on the board of Calgary Chamber of Commerce, advocating for Indigenous Inclusion Strategies and has been elected to the board of Indigenous Gathering Place Society.
1. As a current Member with CFAR, how would you describe your role and involvement with the organization?
As a ‘Long time listener, first time caller,’ Anne’s engagement with CFAR spans the past 10 years of her professional career where she attended events, read the newsletters, and directed many people to CFAR – those who were interested in working within Indigenous Relations. Clearly, Anne was an advocate and supporter of CFAR well ahead of this year when she finally took the plunge and became a CFAR Member!
The transition to becoming an independent consultant is where Anne decided to engage as an individual member, as she saw value in the unique offering of CFAR. “Shifting to being an Independent Consultant has made me be very selective on where I spend my time and money… And this is a place worth investing.”
2. Outside of CFAR, can you share with us what occupies you in work and beyond? What are your roles in work and in life, and what activities bring you joy?
Talking to people, inside and outside CFAR, is what brings joy to Anne. She sees connection and communication as her vocation, encompassing both personal and professional life. Her two young children keep her very busy but offer her the opportunity to shape the narrative about Indigenous interests in an intentional and informed manner. Of very cool interest is her off-grid yurt south of Revelstoke where she and her family escape to and can relax beyond the reach of cell service!
3. Where do you find your professional work and your involvement with CFAR comingle?
Anne is very involved in IAP2 which is the International Association for Public Participation, or the professional group for those who do community engagement on a broad basis. Anne has identified that still, there are some very specific aspects about engaging with Indigenous Communities. As such, she’s had CFAR representatives come to IAP2’s Indigenous Engagement Community of Practice meetings to share and present on the ICIR program. “There’s still something unique about being able to connect with people in this field. I think that’s what CFAR offers is that unique connection to people who ‘get it’ and ‘do it’.”
Further to that, Anne has identified growth opportunities for both organizations she works in, wherein CFAR can lend its Indigenous Engagement expertise to the coast-to-coast footprint operated by IAP2, thus leveraging the works and understanding, to expand under cultural guidance.
“The complexity of advancing reconciliation in our country is enormous. The requirement to being accountable for your own learning and relationships for Canadians is really big. I don’t take it lightly, so for me it is really important that no matter where I am, I know that I’m doing my best to use my privilege in a way that helps get our country to a better place.”
4. As a non-Indigenous ‘Ally’, what you see as the most important considerations when bringing together Indigenous and Non-Indigenous parties, between communities and industry?
Rather than the term “Ally” that is often used, Anne considers herself a “Settler,” which reflects both her association with Indigenous people, as well as her own family history and the privilege it has afforded her. Regardless of the term used, she sees both heart and mind being paramount to Indigenous and Non-Indigenous parties. To do better, we must know better, Anne communicates, therefore we need to learn and to inform ourselves. “Understanding our family histories in the context of government policies of assimilation helps us to orient our privilege within Canada’s history with Indigenous peoples. The act of reflecting on our own personal history and what was happening at that time for Indigenous people in the country helps Canadians to recognize their part in it.”
5. What do you imagine for our local/provincial/global tomorrow, thanks to the changes we are implementing today?
In short, Anne hopes for more change. She will rest and be satisfied “when we live in a country where your racial identity is no longer an indicator of your socioeconomic outcomes.”