Every year, Edify magazine shares its Top 40 Under 40 – a group of Edmontonians who are making an impact on our city. This year, seven MacEwan alumni made the cut, including Bailey Oster, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017. In addition to working as a manager within the Youth Programs and Services Department at the Métis Nation of Alberta, she is the vice-president of New Dawn Métis Women’s Society. She also released her book Stories of Métis Women: Tales my Kookum Told Me in 2021.
We caught up with her to discuss community, personal growth and supporting Métis youth.
What lesson did you learn at MacEwan that you still carry with you today?
MacEwan taught me to value a wide range of opinions, and to think critically about the world around me. I came to realize throughout my degree that the world is complex and there is no objectively right way to be a person – we’re all just trying our best. Today, I try to keep these lessons in mind as they help me be a more empathetic and caring person as I move throughout the world.
What moment or memory from your time at MacEwan stands out to you the most?
I took part in a community-based sociology project, which taught me the basics of research and gave me experience in working with external organizations. At the end of eight months of research, ethics reviews and report writing, I had the opportunity to present my findings at the Annual Sociology Symposium in front of my peers, family and mentors. This was a unique and exciting opportunity for me to learn about the complexities of research, and learn more about my community through the process.
Why are you passionate about what you do?
The work I do is deeply connected to my community and culture. I’m proud to be Métis, and through my job I get the opportunity to share my culture with others, and most importantly to provide Métis youth a safe space to connect with each other and practice their cultural heritage and traditions.
What has been your proudest moment or greatest achievement so far?
I published Stories of Métis Women: Tales My Kookum Told Me, which first reached the top of the Alberta Bestseller list in August 2021. While writing and editing it, I wanted to showcase the stories, strength and perseverance of Métis women from across Alberta, whose voices have historically been silenced. Throughout the writing of this book I had the honour of working with local Métis artists, Michif language speakers, academics, knowledge keepers and women from a variety of fields and life experiences.
What are you looking forward to in the future?
The Métis Nation of Alberta will be voting on our own constitution this November. This has been something that my ancestors fought for generations for, and I’m looking forward to seeing this vision realized. It will dramatically shape the way that the Métis Nation of Alberta’s programs and services are run, and will allow my work to continue to move forward and support Métis youth in each corner of the province.
What advice would you give to current MacEwan students?
MacEwan is a place of self-discovery and growth. As a student you have the chance to meet new people and discover new passions. While post-secondary can be an important step to finding future employment, it is also a chance to explore who you are and what you might want out of life. It is a time to meet new people and try new things, and you never know where it might take you in life.