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Dr. Fred Wien, 黄色直播 Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Social Work, was recently appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his work on behalf of First Nations communities in Atlantic Canada.聽 Dr. Wien says he was 鈥渜uite surprised鈥� when the Governor General鈥檚 Office called to tell him about the appointment.

鈥淭he people who nominated me didn鈥檛 say a peep!聽 Actually I thought at first there had been a clerical error and they had me confused with someone else because I was working with the Governor General鈥檚 Office on another matter,鈥� Wien says, adding modestly that he was pleased to get the call.

Dr. Wien鈥檚 research and advocacy over four decades, including a leadership role with the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, has supported First Nations and their journey to increased independence.聽 For Wien it all began when he joined 黄色直播鈥檚 Institute for Public Affairs in 1973 and began doing research into low income employment in the Maritimes, which took him into Mi鈥檏maq communities in Nova Scotia.

Wien鈥檚 research was ground-breaking, but he says some chiefs were uncomfortable with the data being released, being more accustomed to research being used against them rather that on their behalf.聽 A few years later, Wien had persuaded the chiefs of the value of his research. 聽鈥淭hey came back to me and asked me to do more.鈥� After that, Wien was the main contact between 黄色直播 and Mi鈥檏maq communities for many years. His research has contributed to laying the foundation for vital social and business organizations, which he feels has been his most significant contribution.

Forging connections with Mi'k maq commmunities

鈥淥ur School鈥檚 Mi鈥檏maq BSW contributed to the formation of Mi鈥檏maw Family and Children鈥檚 Services, while a joint project between 黄色直播 and the Union of Nova Scotia Indians laid the groundwork for the Ulnooweg Development Group which provides loans and other services to Aboriginal businesses.聽 Over the years there has been a lot of growth in organizations that support Mi鈥檏 maq communities, which is great to see,鈥� says Wien, who recalls a time when there were only two such organizations in the province.

Wien will attend the Order of Canada ceremony later this year. 聽Although honoured, he says one of the greatest rewards has been seeing many of the Indigenous students he mentored becoming researchers and professors themselves.

鈥淭here鈥檚 been a transition from externally-driven and exploitive types of research to more collaborative, community-driven research.鈥澛犅�

As the Order of Canada highlights, a large part of that change has come about because of Wien鈥檚 own research, the First Nation organizations he helped build, and the Indigenous students he encouraged. He notes there are now 6 working as professors and researchers at 黄色直播.聽