Cree Nation of Chisasibi, QC, Canada
Kelly Willis
Current Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
In 2018, I was working at RCMP National Headquarters in Ottawa, ON as a Corporal with just over 20 years of service. I was excited to see the job advertisement for International Job opportunities in peacekeeping with the words “Female candidates are encouraged to apply.” I selected “Anywhere” as my top choice but only the “Armed” missions. I figured if I was going to be away from my three children for a year-long mission, then I was going to make the most of my experience. Shortly after, I received a call asking if I was interested in going to Mali, Africa to be among the first two, and the first Canadian woman police, to start up the Canadian Contingent.
I knew that I could make the best of any situation due to my background and my career. I’m part Cree from Chisasibi, Québec on my mother’s side and a third generation Residential School attendee, so my resiliency training started early. We didn’t have much growing up and we moved around a few times, so I was used to packing up, leaving friends and things behind, and starting over fresh. The variety of RCMP job and location opportunities was perfect for me and my itchy feet. I’ve served in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, been an “Air Marshal” flying all over, worked relief in Nunavut, and now, I finally got to realize my dream of going International!
In January 2019, my colleague Corporal Guy Lacroix and I left minus 36-degree weather in Ottawa to arrive in plus 36-degree weather in Bamako, Mali. During training, we were the two Canadians sitting the closest to the Air Conditioning while everyone else was complaining that it was too cold.
Being the first two Canadian police in the mission, we relied on the guidance and support offered by other police, military, and civilian staff from over 50 countries within MINUSMA. I worked in the Projects Section with the Development Pillar responsible for reporting on the status of various stabilization projects for the Malian Security Forces (MSF). I figured I would maximize my time in mission and volunteered for a variety of experiences. I handled logistics for the growing Canadian Contingent. I delivered Conflict Management training at the Police College for the MSF. I served as the police representative for a Board of Inquiry into a mass casualty incident. I was part of the UNPOL Women’s Network and a larger Woman’s network for all personnel. I also enjoyed being part of the Social Welfare Committee for event planning, such as social events and a sports day competition.
In October, I got to accompany the Police Commissioner for the launch of the Community Policing Project in Menaka and the grand opening of a Police Commissariat in Gao. At the end of a Q&A session with the community, I signalled to the Police Commissioner that I wanted to hear from the women in the audience. With a smile in his eyes, he told the audience that the Canadian police officer came from far to hear the women of Menaka but that she would first introduce herself. So, I spoke about my Cree heritage and how we too were nomadic traditionally and how everyone played a role in decision making: women, the youth, and Elders. This encouraged several women in the audience to raise their hands and provide their feedback. Later, I was selected by the Chief of Gender Unit to be a panelist to discuss my experience in the UN and to assist with the application and interview practice sessions for a FRANCOPOL workshop that encouraged the recruitment of women for peacekeeping missions in French speaking African countries.
Participating in a UN mission was life changing. I formed many friendships with people from all over the world. I returned home with a new-found confidence and a passion for cultural change within the RCMP. Inspired by my deployment experience and Canada’s work towards reconciliation, I started the Women’s Indigenous Network (WIN) in March 2021. I collaborate with other RCMP employee networks to advance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. I’m grateful for the long line of strong Indigenous women in my family, for the amazing women in this organization, and those in mission who inspire and encourage each other, and most especially for my children, who are proud of their “Girl Boss” mom.
Biography
Sergeant Kelly Willis is a 25-year RCMP police officer who is currently posted at National Headquarters in Ottawa. She is part Cree from her mother’s side and is a third generation Residential School attendee. She grew up in Québec in the towns of Val d’Or, Montréal, and her home reserve of Chisasibi before moving to Ottawa for high school. Attracted to the idea of joining the RCMP to be able to work anywhere in Canada or internationally, and that everyday would be a new adventure, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Ottawa University. Encouraged by an RCMP recruiter, she got Lasik eye surgery and applied for the RCMP. Constable Kelly Willis graduated from Depot in 1997, surrounded by family, which included her mother and Kokum (grandmother). Kelly’s Kokum was 12 when she went to Residential school and now found herself at the age of 78, surrounded by “Red Coats” fearful that she was going to be taken away. She overcame her fear and was proud to see her grand daughter be the first in the family and community to be an RCMP member.
In 1997, Kelly worked in a General Duty capacity at her first two detachments in 100 Mile House and University of British Columbia. In 2003, Kelly became one of the few women to join the Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program (CACPP) as an “Air Marshall” in Toronto. With CACPP, Kelly got to enjoy her love for travel and adventure, both locally and internationally.
In 2006, Kelly transferred to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and worked in General Duty and Recruiting. In 2007, Kelly was promoted to Corporal and received a Human Resource Officer’s Certificate of Appreciation for her “Outstanding contribution to the National Recruiting Program and the development of the Regional Recruiting Model in the Northwest Region”. In 2011, Kelly worked at National Headquarters in Ottawa in RCMP Indigenous Relations Services (RIRS). Kelly worked on a number of high-profile files in their early stages such as: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Restorative Justice, and the RCMP response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. Kelly’s main project in RIRS was in developing, coordinating, and delivering a five-day national Community Conflict Management Group (CCMG) Course, to standardize the RCMP response to protests that has improved relations with demonstrators and the public.
In 2019, Kelly was selected as one of the first two officers, and the first Canadian woman, to start the Canadian Police Contingent for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) in Mali, Africa. Kelly would earn Certificates of Appreciation from both the UN Police Commissioner and Pillar Chief for her “professionalism, proven skills, constant availability, and significant contributions to the implementation of the UN mandate”. Kelly worked in the Projects Section in the Development Pillar but also trained Malian Security Forces on Conflict Management. Kelly volunteered as Contingent Logistician, was active with the UNPOL Women’s Network, the Welfare/Social Committee, and served on a Board of Inquiry for a major UN incident resulting in mass casualties of UN Personnel. In addition to the RCMP Long Service Medal, Kelly received the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal and the UN Mali MINUSMA medal.
Upon returning to National Headquarters in Ottawa in 2020, Kelly worked in International Strategic Operations (ISO) on RCMP Reconciliation Strategies, the Action, Innovation and Modernization (AIM) Unit to advance Indigenous cultural representation in Ceremonial uniform, RIRS as part of the RCMP Reconciliation Working Group, and Federal Policing Assessment Unit (FPAU). In 2022, Kelly was promoted to Sergeant as a reviewer for the National Public Complaints Directorate where she is working on a new Bias/Discrimination allegation for the Public Complaints Process.
In March 2021, Kelly identified a need to unify the voices of fellow RCMP Indigenous women and Two- Spirit employees by forming the Women’s Indigenous Network (WIN). The WIN is used as an RCMP consultative stakeholder who brings a Reconciliation, Indigenous and Gender-based lens to changes in policy, processes, training, and programs. The WIN also identifies and addresses barriers to Indigenous recruiting, retention, promotion, developmental opportunities, and concerns with systemic racism. Kelly started a monthly publication called the WIN Update/Newsletter that highlights both WIN and WIN ally contributions to advance Reconciliation in the RCMP. The success of the WIN has assisted in forming other employee networks which Kelly is engaged with to further unify and advance the underrepresented groups within the organization.
In October 2019, Kelly Willis waits at the airport in Gao, Mali, for the return flight to Bamako after the Police Commissioner’s regional visit to Menaka and Gao.
On June 21, 2019, Kelly Willis poses with the successful female candidates from the Malian Security Forces instructed on the Conflict Management Skills course in Bamako.