Lessons in Leadership
TWU alumnus, Okanagan band chief, Fabian Alexis (’85) leads by example
by Wendy Delamont Lees, illustration by Dean Louis
1962 A young aboriginal single mother has been ordered to relinquish her two-year-old son into the custody of Social Services in Vancouver. But a compassionate community nurse, who strongly opposes the move, whisks the child away from authorities and into the arms of his uncle, Murray Alexis, then-Chief of the Okanagan Indian Band. No one knew it at the time, but that little boy would later be the first in his family to attend university — and eventually follow his uncle’s footsteps into the role of elected Chief. Before that, however, he would face hefty challenges.
Fabian Alexis (’85) grew up on a reserve near Vernon, BC, under the watchful eye of his maternal grandmother, Ella, who raised 11 children before him. A woman with a strong work ethic, she expected the same from her grandson and instilled in him the values and determination that helped him find success. “If it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t have survived — or graduated for that matter,” Alexis says. “My grandmother was a very spiritual, grounded woman who provided a good foundation for me.”
That foundation proved to be the support Alexis needed as he sought his way in life. Surprisingly, the path to TWU began with hockey. At age 16, Alexis left the reserve and attended high school in Grand Forks, BC, where he played Junior B hockey with his cousin. It was there that he met a couple of Trinity Western students and learned that the Langley-based university had a hockey team. After high school, Alexis enrolled and made his way to the campus.
Allan Kotanen, long-serving director in Student Life and then-coach of the TWU Spartans hockey team, remembers Alexis as one of the best players the team ever had. “I don’t think anyone played with more tenacity than Fabian did,” he says. “He came to play every night.”
On the ice, the assistant captain had fire and passion. “Sometimes that fire got him penalties,” says Kotanen, “but I don’t remember ever thinking he should try harder.” Alexis also developed the leadership skills he would use later. “I believe that, through the team, Fabian learned to put as much passion into the game of life as he did into the game of hockey.”
While Alexis set a record for most assists in one season, off the ice he struggled with his studies. Thankfully, Spartans teammate, Glen Hildebrand (’82) noticed, and asked Alexis about his future plans. “I said, ‘I want to graduate,’ ” Alexis says, “and Glen replied, ‘People will remember you more for your education than for hockey. I’ll help you.’ ”
Hildebrand’s concern touched Alexis deeply. “What Glen said stuck,” he says, “and I did bear down and get through.”
And as Hildebrand predicted, Alexis was indeed remembered for his education. His obtaining a university degree inspired a number of other band members to attend TWU—including his cousin, Murray’s son, John Alexis (’88), who now works with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. “My relatives looked at how I managed, and figured they could too,” Alexis says. “I had struggles, but I was coping. And I learned an important lesson: if you can’t do something, look for help.”
While all students need some measure of help and support to achieve academic success, aboriginal students — who often come from small communities and may not have had the same educational opportunities as their non-aboriginal counterparts — sometimes require additional assistance to make the transition to university life. Statistics show that nearly 90 per cent of Canada’s non-aboriginal peoples finish high school, compared to only about 60 per cent of aboriginal peoples. And while 68 per cent of non-aboriginal Canadians aged 25-34 have some post-secondary training, that number is just 42 per cent of aboriginal peoples in the same age group.
With hopes of contributing in a significant way toward assisting First Nations and Métis peoples to raise up leadership from among their own, a group of leaders and professors from Trinity Western formed the Indigenous Peoples’ Task Force in 2009.
Political Science Professor and Task Force Chair, Bob Burkinshaw, Ph.D., acknowledges that TWU is late in forming a specific group to become more intentional in this area. “But,” he says, “we also recognize that, by the very nature of who we are as a school, we’ve already been doing many key things unintentionally.”
Indeed, a number of the University’s aboriginal students and alumni say TWU’s relationally-oriented Christian community and small class sizes helped them successfully transition and persevere during the course of their studies. “There’s a great need for educated aboriginal leadership in many fields,” Burkinshaw says. “The media is full of comments on the subject from aboriginal, provincial, and federal leaders alike.”
“The Okanagan Indian band has one of the highest percentages of members who graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education”
Case in point: the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada, says higher education is the best way for individuals and communities to improve their futures. “While much work needs to be done in Canada to increase graduation rates from both secondary and post-secondary institutions for aboriginal people, there is encouraging news for students, parents, and government leaders,” Strahl, a one-time TWU student, says. “Aboriginal people who acquire a university degree have almost exactly the same employment rates and income levels as their non-aboriginal counterparts. Education is society’s great equalizer.”
It’s a sentiment that Alexis shares. He encourages band members to strive for the highest education possible as a means to advance the whole of their community. “Education improves living conditions by increasing earning power,” he says. “It also provides hope.”
Ella Alexis had both hope and unwavering support for her grandson. “One semester I had to re-write a paper,” Alexis remembers. “My grandmother, who had only a grade seven education, wished she could help. But despite her own lack of education, she was always supportive of mine — from elementary school, to high school, to the liberal arts education I received at TWU.”
Alexis credits his TWU experience for the leadership skills he uses daily in his role as Chief. “I learned patience,” he says. “I was so used to going fast at everything I did; I had to become more patient with people. My experience at Trinity Western has helped remind me to be thankful for the blessings that come my way every day.”
One of those blessings is the band members’ achievements. “The Okanagan Indian Band has one of the highest percentages of members who graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education,” he says proudly. “Our members include seven certified teachers, a medical school student, several who’ve earned MBAs and MAs — many in the area of sciences — and one member who’s pursuing a doctorate.”
Each year, Chief Alexis addresses the graduating high school class, encouraging band youth to pursue their dreams — and higher education. “I believe it’s important for our people to gain experience off the reserve,” he says, “and then, if they choose, to come back and serve.”
“No one can take away your education. You work for it, you earn it, and it’s yours”
Serving as Chief wasn’t something Alexis considered — until several relatives suggested he let his name stand for the position. But before he agreed, he asked two difficult questions: Could he handle 1,758 peoples’ problems? And, was he strong enough? “I realized I could, and I was,” he says.
Now in his third term, Alexis believes strongly in the value of education. “People, government, can take things away,” he says. “But no one can take away your education. You work for it, you earn it, and it’s yours — always.
by Wendy Delamont Lees
illustration by Dean Louis
Back to Top Table of Contents