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By Nathan Jordan

SD-57

Erica McLean Elected as Only Indigenous Voice on SD-57 Board of Trustees

Oct 20, 2022 | 5:28 PM

PRINCE GEORGE- It was a heated campaign, that saw passions reach a fevered pitch over the future of School District-57. After the dust had settled one thing became clear, Erica McLean, the poll leader by margin of just under 1000 votes, voiced a message of positive change towards inclusive learning that resonated with the public, earning her just shy of 36% of total votes cast. She was not the only indigenous name on the ballot, but Erica was the only one to be elected to this terms board of trustees. Something she was moved to tears while reflecting on.

“I just want to take a moment to really celebrate my fellow indigenous people who I ran alongside in this campaign, I think it’s really exciting and i think it’s something worth celebrating. As a part of my own journey of reconciliation, thats exactly what I hope for, that my fellow brothers, sisters, cousins, are able to stand up and say ‘hey, I have a voice, I have something meaningful to share… I’m gonna go do that!'” – Erica McLean, SD-57 Trustee

For years Erica worked as an Indigenous educator and community school coordinator within School District-57. Her background in social work, a vital piece of her toolkit when it comes to connecting school age kids with impactful resources and programming to engage and uplift them.

“Often times in social work we are intervening at a crisis level, and I started to feel like I wanted to get to people before that crisis point, if I can. Throughout my first few years working in education, I realized, this is it, education is the place where I can help students, families remind themselves what they’re capable of, that they have strength, that their community is there to support them, and the community cares about what they do” Erica McLean, SD-57 Trustee

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Erica says all that all the work she does, is inspired by her dream of helping a younger version of herself… by sharing the advice, kind words, and opportunities to the kids of today, that she wishes that young girl from Gitxsan First Nation could have experienced too, all those years ago.