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Co-operative Education

Maci Clements (political science)

A student stands on a path beside tall grass and wild poppies.

Maci Clements is a changemaker who incorporates truth and reconciliation into everything she does. The honours political science student spent her last two co-op work terms working with the YuułuʔIłʔAtḥ Government, a self-governing modern treaty Indigenous government that is part of the Ucluelet First Nation.

In her role as a policy analyst, Maci worked to advance the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 45, which aims to reaffirm the nation-to-nation relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Crown.

A Changemaker Award recipient

Maci is one of the inaugural recipients of the , which celebrate co-op students who have made significant contributions to their workplace, community and/or to their own personal learning.

Maci was awarded the 2024 Reconciliation Award, which recognizes students who advanced the  during a co-op work term.

Advancing Indigenous reconciliation

“In my position, I was able to contribute to this call to action by conducting policy research and development for the YuułuʔIłʔAtḥ Government that helped advance Indigenous self-determination and self-governance,” says Maci.

This included contributing to a data governance policy suite that further advanced YuułuʔIłʔAtḥ Citizen’s data sovereignty and rights, and a home ownership and home repair grant that offered YuułuʔIłʔAtḥ Citizen assistance with purchasing a home on their traditional lands.

Contributing to modern treaty work

Recognized on her team and in the community as a relationship builder, Maci also worked alongside representatives of other self-governing Indigenous Governments on collective actions affecting Indigenous communities across Canada. This included participating in data steering committees with members of Indigenous governments from across the country.

“In these meetings, we discussed Indigenous data sovereignty, wellness indicators in the data, and how to best use data to advance the rights of Indigenous peoples,” says Maci.

Her position also granted her the ability to assist with the advancement of modern treaty work, where she witnessed how treaty relationships built on relationships of mutual respect can further advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.

Developing cultural intelligence

“This co-op position gave me incredible insight into advancing treaty relationships for Indigenous nations, as well as the opportunity to support a critical element of Indigenous resurgence and reconciliation.” 

Looking to the future, Maci is planning on a return to school to study law with a focus on policy. For now, she is continuing to freelance with the YuułuʔIłʔAtḥ Government in Ucluelet.

Learn more

Learn more about the Changemaker awards and the ways that UVic co-op students are making a real difference.