“The teachings of those who came before us have the power to shape who we are and what we can accomplish.” For Wendy Grant-John, those teachings have been a source of strength throughout a remarkable lifetime of leadership, advocacy, and service.
As the 2026 Indigenous Business Award of Distinction recipient, Wendy Grant-John has spent decades advancing Indigenous rights, strengthening communities, and demonstrating the importance of remaining grounded in culture while creating opportunities for future generations.
In her BC Achievement short film, Wendy reflects on the experiences that shaped her understanding of leadership and the extraordinary resilience of Indigenous peoples.
One of the most moving stories Wendy shares comes from her experience returning to university later in life.
Having not completed Grade 12, Wendy decided to pursue further education to deepen her understanding of non-Indigenous governance. During a course on BC history, she was asked to write a personal reflection. She chose to share her father’s experience in residential school.
The assignment required students to exchange their papers with a classmate. The woman who read Wendy’s story was non-Indigenous and had never fully understood the lasting impact of residential schools on Indigenous families and communities.
Reading Wendy’s account changed her perspective.
The woman reflected on how she had previously viewed conditions in Indigenous communities without understanding the history behind them. For the first time, she began to consider what it would mean for parents to have their children forcibly taken away.
It’s a simple but powerful moment in Wendy’s story. Through sharing a personal experience, she helped someone see beyond assumptions and recognize a history that had been overlooked.
Throughout her career, Wendy has championed Indigenous self-determination and the importance of communities having the ability to govern themselves. For Wendy, self-governance begins with knowing who you are. That belief has guided her leadership and reflects a broader message about the relationship between cultural identity and the ability to move confidently in the world.
As Wendy explains in the film, “We talk about our ability to be independent, to govern ourselves, to draw on the knowledge of our people. And we have to live that. We can’t just talk it.”
Perhaps the most powerful message in Wendy’s film is her belief that the resilience of Indigenous peoples comes from the strength of those who came before. She reflects on how ancestral teachings have given her the courage to remain at the table, even when faced with opposing views or difficult circumstances.
For Wendy, leadership requires conviction, but it also requires remembering the people whose struggles and sacrifices made today’s opportunities possible.
Despite generations of injustice, Indigenous peoples have persevered, and their contributions continue to strengthen Canada.
“We’re here. We’re strong. And we’re still contributing to make this country better for everybody.”
Wendy Grant-John’s story is a powerful reminder that remarkable leadership is not measured only by what someone achieves, but by the knowledge they carry forward and the possibilities they help create for others.
Through the Indigenous Business Award program, BC Achievement is proud to recognize Wendy’s extraordinary contributions and share a story that reminds us how deeply the future is connected to the past.
Watch Wendy Grant-John’s short film and discover the remarkable story behind her leadership. (Link to film on YouTube channel – coming soon)
BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.