What Indigenous Reconciliation Means to NATIONS Brand Ambassador Waneek Horn-Miller

Athlete, author and activist Waneek Horn-Miller is no stranger to making history. The first Mohawk woman from Canada to compete at the Olympic games, Waneek changed the conversation on Indigenous women’s participation in elite-level sports. 

She’s since swapped the athlete’s podium for a desk at NATIONS but Waneek continues to advocate for Indigenous excellence and success in her role as Manager of Client Relations and Business Development.

Waneek views her work as a NATIONS brand ambassador as a natural continuation of her groundbreaking athletic career - giving her another chance to make history and start conversations in a different sphere.

“A lot of people don't realize how unique NATIONS is,” she says. “This is an Indigenous translation company that’s not just translating little bits here and there, it's translating big projects, like the federal budget, that matter to everybody in this country. 

“That’s important because when we talk about economic reconciliation, that doesn’t mean lessening your standards, it's about doing business with Indigenous companies like NATIONS who have high standards and can compete. That's why I love working with NATIONS - it is unique in its efforts to uplift the indigenous community.”

Language preservation

Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned translation company, NATIONS offers translations in over 100 languages, 34 of which are Indigenous. These include Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe, Algonquin), Nêhiyawêwin (Plains Cree), Mushkegowuk (Swampy Cree), Oji-Cree, Inuktitut and other Inuit languages, and Mi’kmaq, among others.

All of these languages are at risk, according to UNESCO, and several are endangered, meaning they could disappear from their communities entirely in the next few years. NATIONS is pushing back. The company is helping to keep these unique languages alive -  not just by connecting public and private sector entities with Indigenous audiences, but also opening up career opportunities for Indigenous speakers in the language services industry.

“Cultural preservation and language preservation is a big part of what we do,” says Waneek. “NATIONS shows that you can learn Indigenous languages and have a career as a translator. It's really important for our communities to give our current language keepers financial incentives and financial security.”

Language revitalization doesn’t just benefit First Nations communities economically of course, it’s also a way to preserve their identity, heritage, and history. As Waneek explains, these languages aren’t just a collection of words or a way to communicate, they’re a window into the soul of Indigenous communities.

“Our languages are not like Latin or other written languages. They're descriptive, they’re verb oriented and carry a sense of action. If you look at the word and how it was formulated, it's as if somebody took a moment in time and described it. There's emotion, historical relevance and context, all built into the making of a word. 

“This whole interconnected understanding of our world comes down to our language. So when we say learning and understanding indigenous languages is really important, that’s because it's tied directly to how we see ourselves. It’s really interesting when you see the confidence that arises from young people when they learn their language, and when they speak it. It doesn't matter what you look like or how you dress. What's coming out of your mouth is who you are.”

In addition to her position at NATIONS, Waneek is also a motivational speaker. She’s also writing a book due to be published next year and completing a master's degree in Indigenous Studies and Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia. In her studies and her work, she says she’s always conscious of how she uses language to connect with others.

“As someone who has achieved success at a very high level in my sport, I talk a lot about excellence and how important that is in our community.  I really think about the role of language, even in my daily life and understanding my own motivation. I'm always trying to paint a picture to people and hit them in the emotional space. That's what indigenous languages are based on, they're based upon communicating at all levels.”

Indigenous allyship

That flair for communication and connection helps Waneek foster strong relationships with NATIONS’ clients. While clients are attracted by the range and quality of NATIONS’ language services, Waneek’s role is to add another dimension to the NATIONS offering - being a voice for her community.

“It’s so interesting to be in this space and see how NATIONS is blending two very different worlds - the Indigenous culture and Western professional translation -  into a single, successful business model. We talk about reconciliation in this country, that is a form of reconciliation.

“When I speak to clients, I'm talking about the ‘why’ - that they’re part of something bigger. As a non Indigenous company, being an ally is more than just showing up and wearing an orange shirt on September 26. It's actually putting your money where your mouth is. The success of the Indigenous community is success for this country.”

Preserving the past, looking ahead

It’s a new era for Indigenous reconciliation efforts, and a new era for NATIONS itself as the company solidifies its position at the forefront of the Canadian language services market. Over the past year, NATIONS acquired Language Marketplace, unveiled its new headquarters in Ottawa, and opened a branch in Toronto. 

It’s an exciting time to be with the company, says Waneek who foresees more history-making opportunities in the pipeline as NATIONS grows. 

“This is just the beginning for NATIONS. There’s nothing like this company and it’s so cool to be a part of it. It's a lot of fun.”