Standing for Culture: My Closing Address in Vancouver

In 2017, I had the honour of delivering the closing address at the Developing Sustainable Communities Conference in Vancouver, Canada. It was a defining moment — one that helped shape the foundations of what would become the SAFE Method.

Earlier in the conference, I’d facilitated a panel on Aboriginal education programs in Australia. It was well received, but nothing compared to the nerves I felt stepping up to deliver the final words at an international gathering of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers.

But when I spoke, I spoke from a place of truth.

My Message: Culture First

I shared the importance of keeping culture at the centre of all our decisions — especially when building programs, policies, and systems that impact First Peoples.

I talked about how easily Aboriginal and Indigenous communities are forgotten within the machinery of government and corporate structures, and how we must work intentionally to keep our voices strong and our futures front and centre.

I reminded the audience that:

We don’t just walk on the shoulders of giants.
We carry responsibility for our great-great-grandchildren.

That message landed in the room with weight and resonance.

A Turning Point

I received a standing ovation that day — something I’ll never forget. It was a moment of clarity, validation, and deep connection.

That speech was more than a closing statement. It was a turning point — a moment that moved me further along the path of building the SAFE Method and dedicating my life to creating safe spaces for culture, truth, and leadership.