Note: This article first appeared in the Winter 2024 issue of Capitalize, CPA Alberta’s semi-annual magazine that introduces students and others to the accounting profession in Alberta.
by Sarah Maludzinski
Maureen Moneta CPA, CA and Joshua Letendre CPA are both members of the Métis Nation of Alberta, engaged CPAs, and leaders in the Indigenous Learners in Accounting Initiative created by the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Alberta (AFOA Alberta) and the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB). Maureen Moneta is the Vice-chair of the CPA Alberta board and a subject matter expert contributing to the development of the Indigenous education initiative. Joshua is a member of the CPA Alberta Foundation board and an instructor in the Indigenous Learners in Accounting Initiative. The initiative tailors accounting curriculum with Indigenous context and experience and is taught by Indigenous instructors.
Joshua: Maureen, I know you’ve inspired and encouraged many young people to pursue higher education and their CPA designation. What made you want to become a CPA?
Maureen: I found primary education challenging. Accounting was the first course I took in high school that I got a 100% in. I loved the idea that if the equation balanced, you knew you had it right at the end. There was something about how logical it was that just made sense.
I knew I wanted to be in leadership, and I thought earning an accounting designation would give me the skills to understand business. Accounting is the language of business after all. What about you?
Joshua: I was always good with numbers. Like you, I liked that there is a right way and a wrong way, and you can get to the right answer. But my Indigenous advisor’s guidance was the first big step for me to consider going further.
I wanted to be done with education after high school, but I was lucky to have an Indigenous advisor at my high school, and he said, “Well, why don’t we not dismiss the idea of post-secondary completely, and let’s just explore some options. Let’s go for a tour and check things out.”
For me, post-secondary was actually a very enjoyable time. I don’t know if we can put accounting and fun together, but…
Maureen: What I find interesting about your story, Joshua, is that you had an Indigenous advisor, and that was a key part of your journey.
During my education and earlier in my career, I didn’t feel comfortable talking about being Métis. Often when I spoke about being Métis, I would hear that I was still “ok because I didn’t seem Indigenous.” I didn’t fit their expectations of the colonial stereotypes they believed about Indigenous peoples.
To say this was uncomfortable for me to navigate as a young aspiring professional is an understatement. One reason I’m so proud of the Indigenous education initiative created by AFOA Alberta and CPAWSB is that it changes the conversation so all Indigenous learners can feel there’s a place for them to belong within the accounting profession.
Joshua: I know we both are passionate about this initiative. What made you want to be part of it?
Maureen: I was constantly having conversations with business leaders where many were saying the same thing: we need more Indigenous CPAs.
I was being asked to recommend someone or help with recruitment too much. The truth is there are far too few Indigenous CPAs to meet the needs of the market. But why are there so few?
“The truth is there are far too few Indigenous CPAs to meet the needs of the market.
Maureen Moneta CPA, CA
But why are there so few?”
CPA Canada funded a study to better understand. Athabasca University led the research and created Hearing Indigenous Voices: Mitigating the Challenges and Barriers to the Accounting Profession Faced by Indigenous People with the support of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students, who helped the profession understand the barriers that existed for Indigenous peoples.
The Indigenous education initiative was created around the premise of reducing and removing those barriers so Indigenous people could equitably seek an accounting education. The initiative is led by Indigenous CPAs and created through a partnership between AFOA Alberta and CPAWSB and supported by CPA Canada, CPA B.C., CPA Alberta, CPA Saskatchewan, and CPA Manitoba.
Joshua: I think it’s been a great opportunity for Indigenous students to gain education they may have wanted before but couldn’t get. And now with this education, they are able to get to the next level.
One learner shared with me that, in her current accounting job, she’s always been told to just pull reports. But after the first couple sessions of Introductory Financial Accounting, she said she gets it now. In meetings with her supervisors, she is now able to contribute to the analysis and discussions because she has the basic understanding of where it’s all coming from, why we’re doing it, and how it all comes together.
Another learner in the initiative shared that she was shopping at a grocery store, and she was looking at the prices of things and adding things up. And she said, “When I shop now, I think about my personal income statement, my personal balance sheet.”
It was through the ability to get this accounting education that she was able to understand her personal finances in a different way. I think that shows the impact of this accounting education. It translates much further than only “I’m now an accountant at work.” It affects day-to-day lives.
Maureen: Those stories from your students are incredible. And it’s fantastic that the Indigenous students in the initiative are creating their own learning community through their cohort group.
Joshua: That’s another important part. When I graduated, I didn’t know any other Indigenous students in business. Creating this cohort and community of like-minded people in similar roles, having that community you can lean on that’s going through similar things you are—that’s also a huge advantage of this initiative.
Maureen: This initiative truly incorporates so many important elements that will set the learners up for success. It was created by Indigenous leaders and is the definition of strong collaboration and the right work being done in the right way.
Subject matter experts from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities worked with writers on the redevelopment of the standard accounting cases. The same technical content remains, as it would in any of the traditional cases (that are historically based around a corporate business), but the storylines within the cases are transformed to be reflective of an Indigenous experience. Indigenous learners can see themselves in these stories and feel their experience is mirrored back to them. These redeveloped cases are also a differentiator in the initiative.
“I love being able to provide examples in my classes—something real and tangible. These Indigenous storylines within the cases are so important in adding to that. It brings an experience we’re familiar with.”
Joshua Letendre CPA
Joshua: I love being able to provide examples in my classes—something real and tangible. These Indigenous storylines within the cases are so important in adding to that. It brings an experience we’re familiar with. Indigenous people have always been entrepreneurial-minded, and to be able to see that and bring light to that is special.
Maureen: Even something as simple as assuming that, when you get to an important decision point in business, everyone would naturally call their tax advisor. That’s not the natural next step for many, and that isn’t the only good way to make decisions. I love the spirit behind these stories, these characters in the storylines may go seek wisdom from their community. They’ll talk to Elders. They’ll talk to knowledge-holders. Incorporating an Indigenous way of thinking will make business better.
Joshua: It’s about working together, being open to considering different approaches and ways of thinking. We all have a similar goal in mind, and it’s about working together towards that goal.
Maureen: In your experience with this initiative, Joshua, why do you think it’s even more important educational institutions tailor learning to Indigenous students?
Joshua: While I’m an instructor in the initiative, as an Indigenous person, I’ve deepened my understanding about barriers—everybody has different barriers.
Being aware of different barriers for all students of all backgrounds, including Indigenous students, will help educational institutions expand their student base and make education more accessible and equitable.
Maureen: I wish initiatives like this existed sooner. I hope one day becoming a CPA is equitable for everyone, and the profession reflects the amazing diversity we have here in Canada.
Joshua: This initiative is making obtaining accounting education more equitable and accessible. The accounting standards are the accounting standards, and we’re going to learn that one way or another. It’s how we learn it that is shifting.
Maureen: Contributing to the Indigenous Learners in Accounting Initiative created by AFOA Alberta and CPAWSB is such a privilege and pleasure. This initiative is demonstrating the true essence of reconciliation and inspiring both the accounting profession and business community to do better. I am very proud to be a CPA.
To learn more about the Indigenous Learners in Accounting Initiative created by AFOA Alberta and CPAWSB, visit CPAWSB’s website, email gettingstarted@cpaalberta.ca, or call 1-800-232-9406.
CPAs on CPAs is a regular feature in Capitalize,
CPAs on CPAs: Indigenous Learners in Accounting Initiative | Capitalize (cpaalberta.ca)
