Paula Rickard

Workshop: Indigenous Connections in the North

Paula will use storytelling to show the connections between Indigenous people, families, and communities in northern Ontario.

Paula Rickard lives in Moose Factory with her family. She has been in health and social services for 25 years and understands how culture supports mental health. Part of Indigenous cultural identity comes from knowing our ancestors. Paula began her genealogy research with her grandmother and, for many years, kept family history notes and documents. In 2016, she began building a family tree that has about 13,000 people on it today. Her interest in genealogy helped her learn how her ancestors lived along with their customs, beliefs, family, and inter-community connections. Paula firmly believes that knowing family history is culture and helps set the path forward.