Advancing the inclusion and recognition of Indigenous science at the CFIA

This blog post was originally published to Cultivating Science on science.gc.ca.

My name is Mike Reid and I am a proud L'nu Mi'kmaq. I embarked on my career with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) back in 2009 as a laboratory technician at the (former) St. John's Laboratory in Newfoundland. Drawn to new opportunities, I transferred to Ottawa in 2011 and joined the Ottawa Laboratory (Carling), where I focused on food diagnostic testing.

In 2015, I transitioned to a role in Human Resources, taking on a fresh challenge. There, I was responsible for spearheading Indigenous initiatives with the hope of making a tangible impact for current and future employees. I had the privilege of contributing to programs such as the Indigenous Summer Student Program and the Indigenous Career Management for Employees Program. Additionally, I co-chaired the National Indigenous Advisory Circle, where I played an integral role in shaping policies and strategies to support Indigenous employees within the Agency.

Continue reading to learn more.