Patti LaBoucane-Benson facts for kids

Patti LaBoucane-Benson, born on February 20, 1969, is a Canadian leader, teacher, and politician. She is a Métis woman. For nine years, she was the director of research, training, and communications at Native Counselling Services of Alberta.

On October 3, 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chose her to represent Alberta in the Senate of Canada. The Senate is a part of Canada's Parliament that reviews laws.

Since May 2023, she has been the Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate. In this important role, she helps organize discussions in the Senate. She also helps make sure new government laws move forward. She is the first Indigenous woman to hold such a high leadership position in the Senate. Before this, she was the Government Liaison.

In 2016, she won the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature. She received this award for her graphic novel, The Outside Circle, which she wrote with Kelly Mellings.

Early Life and Education

Patti LaBoucane-Benson's mother's family is Ukrainian. Her father's family has roots in France, with an ancestor arriving around 1725. Later, his grandson married an Indigenous woman in 1830.

Over many years, her father's family moved across Canada. They lived in places like Red River and White Plains, Manitoba. They also lived in Battle River, Alberta, which was known as the Laboucane Settlement. Finally, they settled in St. Paul des Metis, Alberta, where Patti was born and grew up.

She earned three degrees from the University of Alberta. One of these is a PhD in Human Ecology. Her PhD research looked at how Indigenous families stay strong through challenges. This research later became her award-winning graphic novel, The Outside Circle.

Career and Community Work

Patti LaBoucane-Benson was the executive director of the Boys and Girls Club in St. Paul for two years. She also worked for 23 years at Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA). At NCSA, she was the director of research, training, and communications.

In 2017, she helped organize and lead the Nelson Mandela Dialogues. These important discussions took place on Enoch Cree Nation.

She is an expert in teaching about the effects of past challenges on communities. She taught and guided students at the University of Alberta in several departments. These included the Peter Lougheed Leadership College and the Faculty of Native Studies. She also helped train staff at Legal Aid Alberta and the Edmonton Police Service. This training helped them better serve Indigenous people.

At NCSA, she was also the director of the BearPaw Legal Education and Resource Centre. She was also the editor for Pimatisiwin Journal of Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health.

As director of BearPaw Media Production at NCSA, Patti LaBoucane-Benson helped create many educational materials. These resources were made for and about Indigenous peoples. Some of the projects she was involved in include:

• Water: The Sacred Relationship
• Homefire
• Hidden Homelessness
• Journey Home
• Common Ground: Indigenous Law and Alberta Hunting and Fishing Regulations
• Wahkohtowin: Cree Natural Law

In the Senate, Patti LaBoucane-Benson has supported important laws. She sponsored Bill C-92, which focuses on Indigenous child welfare. She also sponsored Bill C-15, which supports the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

The Outside Circle Graphic Novel

The Outside Circle was first published in English in 2015. A French version was released in 2023. The story is about two Indigenous brothers. They face challenges like poverty and difficult situations. They go on a journey to heal and understand how past family experiences affect their lives.

This fictional story is based on Dr. LaBoucane-Benson's many years of research. It also draws from her work with Indigenous men who were in difficult situations. The book became a national best-seller.

Personal Life and Inspirations

Patti LaBoucane-Benson enjoys gardening. Her husband is a traditional Nehiyaw (Cree) hunter. They live in Alberta on a property with their two Belgian Malinois dogs, Dante and Ryder.

Her grandmother, Grace LaBoucane, was a big inspiration. Grace worked closely with John Diefenbaker when he was running for Prime Minister. She was even offered a seat in the Senate herself. However, she chose to decline because of her family commitments in Alberta. Patti LaBoucane-Benson says her grandmother's story encouraged her to seek a seat in the Senate.