As part of our union’s commitment to learn from the experiences and celebrate the successes of Indigenous, Black and racialized CUPE members, CUPE is profiling members of the National Indigenous Council and National Racial Justice Committee. This month, meet National Indigenous Council member Lynn Serhan.

When Lynn Serhan tells her coworkers and family kisâkihitin, which is Cree for “I love you,” it’s an act of resistance and hope.

Lynn is reclaiming her Cree and Métis heritage by learning words in Cree and Michif, the language of the Métis people.

Growing up, Lynn didn’t learn her people’s culture or traditions. It’s lit a fire in her to learn and share as much as she can with her children and grandchildren – and with her coworkers and union members.

“Once the language is gone, once our Elders are gone and the language is not shared, we are gone as Indigenous peoples. Because that’s everything,” says Lynn.

Colonial policies and practices in Canada prohibited Indigenous people from speaking their languages. These policies aimed to suppress Indigenous cultures and assimilate Indigenous people into settler society. Today, there’s a movement to revitalize endangered Indigenous languages.

Born to a Cree mother and Russian father, Lynn’s mother and grandmother didn’t speak Cree with her.

“It makes me so proud to see languages coming back,” says Lynn. “We are survivors. We are strong. We will never be gone.”

Lynn is a care aide at Pleasant Valley Manor, a long-term care facility in Armstrong, BC. She lives in neighbouring Enderby, on the unceded territory of the Splatsin people of the Secwépemc Nation. She is a member of the Hospital Employees’ Union and sits on CUPE’s National Indigenous Council.

Breaking new ground

In a historic 2021 vote, HEU members amended the union’s constitution to add six equity seats to the HEU provincial executive. The following year, Lynn was elected as HEU’s first Indigenous Peoples Diversity Vice-President. She was re-elected in 2024 to a second term.

She is passionate about sharing her culture in her union to drive positive change. She says having Indigenous voices like hers at the table brings an important perspective.

“It makes people aware we’re still here. We’re not going to give up,” she says.

Lynn got her start in HEU more than 15 years ago as the chair of her local. Members weren’t participating, so Lynn also took on steward and health and safety roles. She started attending HEU conventions and joined the HEU Indigenous Peoples Standing Committee. She also served a term in the 2010s on CUPE’s National Indigenous Council.

Finding connection

As her engagement deepened in her union, Lynn met other Indigenous members who had also been separated from their culture. It motivated her to speak up.

“I like sharing my story because I’m hoping it will help others to not feel like so much of an imposter. Because that’s how I felt,” she says.

“I always felt like I wasn’t part of the Indigenous community. Going to school, I never fit in the white world, and I never fit in the brown world,” says Lynn.

Racist name-calling made Lynn feel even worse about herself.  “Growing up I was called some bad names. I had to learn I’m not the person they said I was.”

It’s taken Lynn decades of “unpacking, unlearning and talking” to feel proud of who she is. She has found deep connections and a sense of belonging through the National Indigenous Council.

“When we see each other, it’s like we were never apart. We just pick up where we left off.”

Building relationships

CUPE’s Indigenous cultural safety work resonates with Lynn. The National Indigenous Council is helping shape a full-day Union Education workshop that will raise awareness about racism impacting Indigenous members and the unique challenges Indigenous workers face in Canada.

“It’s about being able to work with our Elders in a good way. To honour and listen. We have to realize that each region and each territory are different,” she says. “It’s about respecting that, and being able to ask, and building allies and relationships.”

Lynn brings that approach to her care aide work with seniors, including Indigenous Elders.

“We respect their traditions. When an Elder passed in our home, the family came and had the space to smudge and do what they needed to do for their family member to pass on in a good way,” she says.

Lynn is deepening her connection with her traditions by learning to bead and make ribbon skirts. She’s also learning about traditional plant medicines and is excited to take an in-depth Michif course.

Lynn wants Indigenous, Black and racialized people who are thinking of getting involved in their union to feel a sense of belonging.

“Just embrace it. Listen, learn, ask questions. Don’t feel like you’re an alien, because I felt like I was an alien, that I didn’t belong,” she says.

Lynn is clear that getting more Indigenous members active and involved is key to making change.

“Our voices are coming to the table now. It’s taking time, but I hear our voices there. We embrace everybody. We’re all relations.”

Learn more about CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy including Goal 4, which focuses on highlighting the lived experiences of Indigenous, Black and racialized members and celebrating their successes, at cupe.ca/cupes-anti-racism-strategy. And check out these tips for putting the strategy into action in your local.