At 23 years old, Taylor George-Hollis is already a political veteran, having ran twice for Squamish Nation Chiefs and Council. She didn’t win, but the young woman didn’t let the loss slow her down. The third-year, liberal studies Capilano University student has big plans.
The Squamish Chief sat down with George-Hollis for a wide-ranging chat about politics, the future and the role fitness plays in her life.
What follows is an edited version of that conversation.
Q: Tell me a bit about your upbringing?
A: I was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, by my father and with my sister and brother. I graduated high school in 2012. At the age of 18, I decided to move by myself to North Vancouver. My sister and brother followed me here.
Q: What made you want to move to North Van?
A: The Squamish Nation provides funding for post secondary education for its members, with the understanding that you have to be a Canadian citizen or live in Canada. I gained residency. I also had the goal of meeting all my Squamish Nation family up here.
For two years I was a Squamish Nation youth ambassador at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, and I loved it. That is also where I learned the Squamish language, songs, dances and everything.
Q: What has it been like learning your cultural ties and the history?
A: It is an eye-opener, I moved here and it is overwhelmingly happy to have that sense of connection and to know where my ancestors come from and who and where I come from. I live on the Capilano reserve now and I really like it because I can go outside and see my cousins and my close friends. It really made the campaigning experience easier too. People are really friendly. I walk through the reserve and wave and say hi to everyone.
Q: And you ran for chiefs and council, why?
A: I actually ran twice. The first time I was 19 and that was really interesting. I was the second youngest person at that time to be a candidate. I thought, ‘Why not.’
I have always been civically and politically engaged. Being so young, I didn’t really know that first time what I was getting myself into. In this last campaign, I was looking back at my first platform four years ago and I don’t even know what I was running about.
This past December, I really had a solid campaign. I based it on more membership inclusion and having decentralized resources and programs, because there’s a great population of members that live in the Squamish Valley. Housing is another big issue. I would like to address the housing crisis. Our elders are waiting 30 and 40 years for housing. There are single families who struggle to find a place to rent and they have to move further out just to find affordable living.
Q: How did you feel about not winning the election? Are you hoping to run again?
A: At first, I was disheartened. I worked so hard, day and night. I didn’t make it on council by about 22 votes. I was shocked. I kept trying to figure out what I did wrong. But I realized it wasn’t about fault. I mean, 352 people believed in my campaign. My calling is to finish my post-secondary education and to get my degree and in four years I can run again. What I am actually more interested in now is we need a stable relationship with our municipalities as well. We need a stronger relationship with the province and the federal government. One day, I hope to run to be an MLA or an MP.
Q: You have also served on the Squamish Nation Trust. Tell me about that.
A: It formed in 2000. Back then it was a settlement agreement that meant Canada gave the Nation $92 million in a compensation agreement and the money was held in trust for future generations. I sat on the trust for two years from 2014-2016. That let me understand how the Nation is run financially.
Q: You are newly married. How did you meet your husband, Michael J. McCarthy?
A: In 2013 I was a student at Cap and he was the MC at the Truth and Reconciliation national event in Vancouver. I brought my Cannon camera and he said I should hashtag TRC Vancouver and so I did. We ended up following each other and then we talked to each other every day on social media for about a year, but it wasn’t for a year or two until we met up again in person.
He is also my trainer now. His profession is in mental health and wellness. Our first date was a hike up Mount Klitsa in Port Alberni. Growing up I was always very active, but on that hike I wasn’t in great shape, but I wanted to prove to him that I could run up the mountain and back down. It was really cool.
But in our first year married we were in a honeymoon phase and I gained about 50 lbs.
And so I got Michael to start training me. The results are so addicting.
Q: I follow you on Twitter where you post your pictures. My gosh, your arms alone are amazing. What does it do for your mental health, do you think?
A: When you work out, you release endorphins and that causes like a pain release mechanism and it also helps my mental ability to expand. I am more focused and much happier as a person. I work out in the morning and it allows me to start my days off really well.
As an environmental activist, I also use my fitness as a way of crowd funding. I ran for the Great Climate Race and every kilometre I ran, I earned money. I ran every day either over the Lions Gate Bridge or on a track. That raised money for solar power projects.
I think it would be great for the Squamish Nation to have, instead of the Woodfibre LNG plant, having alternative energy and solar panels and wind turbines and really conserving energy. Putting that back into our communities.
Q: So what is next for you?
A: I should be done with my education in about two years. Then I would like to go help and serve another First Nations organization with public relations work or inter-governmental work strengthening the Nation to Nation relationships with the provincial or Federal government or asserting Squamish Nation rights and title. So hopefully, within the next four years I will run for chiefs and council again or take a jump and maybe become an MLA. I am keeping an open mind, I am very optimistic.
