Before all that, however, she needed credentials and sought out a construction worker job training program in Fort McMurray. Uncomfortable with being the only woman in a program of forty-two men, Doreen convinced a female cousin to join her in the program. Muriel Stanley Venne and Stan Daniels, president of the Métis Association of Alberta, then used their influence to get Doreen hired by the City of Edmonton. She enjoyed the construction work but was subject to verbal abuse, racial slurs, and more. She told me,“ It was almost every day I had to fight to protect who I was, because I’ m a woman.” She was only able to persist in that job and become“ foreman” because of daily encouragement from Stanley Venne.
Not long after, she had remarried and relocated to Fort McMurray with her family but faced continued harassment. This marriage ended too, in part because her husband forbade her from sitting with male coworkers. For a time, she sought more traditional work in the kitchens of work camps where the pay was decent. She also took lessons on beadwork and sold hundreds of pairs of moccasins, boots, and coats.
Curious about her family’ s origins, Doreen eventually returned to Edmonton to pursue personal research at the University of Alberta, supporting herself with beadwork and giving
lessons in basic Cree. She discovered that her family had built most rural Catholic churches in Alberta, usually without pay or recognition. She also learned that her family was part of the Papaschase band, whose traditional lands included much of the south side of Edmonton. Despite being forcibly removed from their land, the Papaschase never surrendered their claim, and Doreen joined the movement to have the claim recognized once again.
By 2002, Doreen had become a recognized elder in the Cree community and received the Esquao Award for Community Involvement from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women. It was noted that Doreen was“ a role model for other women,” and that the award was meant“ to honour women of courage in the workforce.” Doreen may not have achieved widespread fame, but her resilience and quiet determination made her an inspiration to many.
Alvin Finkel is professor emeritus of history at Athabasca University and president of the Alberta Labour History Institute. A prolific historian, Alvin’ s latest book is Humans: The 300,000 Year Struggle for Equality, which Indigo / Chapters named one of the best 100 new books of 2024.
AUTUMN 2025 | 27