Cindy – A Journey of Advocacy and Change

Cindy grew up in a small town in Northwestern Quebec, where her Algonquin culture quietly thrived within the walls of her family home. She deeply valued her heritage but didn’t embrace it until much later. Today, it is the backbone of her professional journey.

At 40, Cindy left behind a “heart-satisfying” career in the non-profit sector, where she worked with exceptional children, and joined the Aboriginal Tax Office Apprenticeship Program at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). “It felt like a natural shift,” Cindy reflects. “Helping children requires patience and empathy, and those same skills apply to my work at the CRA. It’s about understanding people, and meeting them where they are.”

Cindy's ability to connect with people has been central to her success at the CRA. “Making real connections is how you build trust,” Cindy explains. After becoming a Liaison Officer in 2016, she worked with small businesses across Eastern Ontario, helping them navigate government services, especially during the pandemic. For Cindy, helping Indigenous businesses was the highlight of that position.

In 2022, Cindy joined the Indigenous Affairs Section as a Senior Program Officer. “This role fills my heart, makes me proud of the difference I can make for my people,” she says. “At the CRA we need to provide the best possible service for everybody. Our team is dedicated to having First Nations, Métis and Inuit get what they need. I love the CRA’s People First approach, and I always think about it as ‘Peoples First’. It’s not a collective, we are all separate and unique and we all deserve access to the benefits we are entitled to.”

At the heart of Cindy’s team’s role is the CRA’s Indigenous Strategy for 2024-2027, which builds on the success of the previous Indigenous Portfolio Action Plan. This strategy is the result of extensive engagement and collaboration between the CRA’s branches, regions, and the Indigenous Employee Network. “It is a collective effort,” Cindy explains. “We conducted in-depth research, including online surveys and workshops, to gather feedback from Indigenous communities and organizations.”

The new strategy focuses on six critical initiatives: engagement; procurement; hiring, retention and career development; tailored services; communications and branding; and training. Cindy explains, “these are real, actionable steps to ensure the CRA is meeting the unique needs of Indigenous Peoples”.

One of the strategy’s key goals is to address the gap in benefits and services for Indigenous peoples, particularly those affected by section 87 of the Indian Act, which provides tax exemptions for First Nations individuals living on reserves. “Many don’t file taxes because of the exemption, but that means they’re missing out on vital benefits and credits,” Cindy explains.

The CRA is working hard to build trust with Indigenous communities. Through the CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) and Outreach Program, they reach out to remote Indigenous communities, ensuring they have access to the benefits they’re entitled to. “The Agency is not just providing a service,” Cindy emphasizes. “We’re saying, ‘You deserve this, and we’re here to help you claim what’s rightfully yours.’”

Another key part of the strategy is creating meaningful engagement with Indigenous organizations. “These organizations are already stretched thin,” she says. “Our goal is to coordinate internally and with other government departments to make sure we’re asking the right questions and not overwhelming them with repeated requests.”

Cindy is proud of the CRA’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The CRA’s Indigenous Strategy 2024-2027 is public-facing, meaning that the CRA is open to questions and ready to be held accountable. “We’re putting our plans out there, and we’re ready to back them up,” Cindy says. “This isn’t just a check-the-box exercise. We’re here to make real, lasting change.”

For Cindy, this work is deeply personal. “As a First Nations woman, my Algonquin roots run deep,” she says. “This will help my people and Indigenous Peoples across Canada. This strategy is one step forward in reconciliation, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Reflecting on her career journey, Cindy couldn’t have imagined where it would lead. “I took a leap of faith at 40, and it felt right,” she says. “I’m proud of the work I do every day. I stand up for my people, and I hope that by doing so, others will be inspired to stand proud for their heritage too.”