Indigenous Talent – Success Stories from the SHA – Bill Greyeyes
My name is Bill Greyeyes, I am a proud member of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation located 156 km north of Saskatoon.
I am a Red Seal Journeyperson carpenter with over 40 years in the trades. I have worked in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors and taught trades skills for Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT). I am honored to be the husband to an amazing wife and together we foster 3 children on top of our own 5 children and 3 grandchildren.
I work for the SHA at Royal University Hospital as a carpenter/ locksmith and since starting this role I have attained my locksmith certification. I love my career here and am blessed with many great coworkers. I am benefiting from the knowledge that I have gained working here and was surprised that I was still young enough to learn new things.
Working as a carpenter / locksmith at RUH has allowed me to work close to home. Many of my previous roles were on camps away from home so this change has greatly benefited my work life balance.
When I first took this role, I couldn’t believe there could be a need for a full-time locksmith. Yet I quickly learned that not only is there a constant flow of work, but the work is both challenging and rewarding, and never the same two days in a row.
As a new tradesperson, this role exposes you to a wide variety of skills and techniques and challenges your ability to think on your feet and out of the box. As a lifelong tradesperson, this is something I truly enjoy.
Elders offer daily smudges in which my department happily allows me to join, and these are open to patients and employees alike. As a proud First Nations person, I appreciate very much the cultural amenities and engagement available to me.
