This summer, Audrey Siegl, the outspoken Musqueam First Nation leader and homeless advocate, gained media and public attention during the tent city occupation at Oppenheimer Park.
As a COPE candidate, Siegl is running in this week's municipal election. If she wins, Siegl will be the first woman of indigenous ancestry to take a seat at Vancouver city hall.
Here, she braves the iconic personality survey known as the Proust Questionnaire.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Peace. A full moon on an isolated island, curled up in a cliff nest overhanging the ocean with a fire and the company of my best friend.
What is your greatest fear? Not being enough; being tied for 1st place with the other person leaving.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Insecurity.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Closed minds and hearts.
Which living person do you most admire? Eddie Vedder who made his way out of his darkness to find and be light.
What is your greatest extravagance? Taking time off to take care of myself.
What is your current state of mind? Focused.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Beauty.
On what occasion do you lie? When someone is overwhelmed and needs kindness, NOT full honesty.
What do you most dislike about your appearance? My squishy belly **jiggle **jiggle** ha ha ha.
Which living person do you most despise? Anyone who dishonours themselves and their ancestors by lying & cheating.
What is the quality you most like in a man? Thoughtful.
What is the quality you most like in a woman? Easygoing.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "Awesome!"
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My Grandpa, χʷəy̓χʷiq̓tən/ Stephen August.
When and where were you happiest? When I was 6, sitting on my Grandpa's lap while he carved a block of yellow cedar, wood flying about and forming an ocean of fragrant shavings around us.
Which talent would you most like to have? To be able to sit still.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To have more patience.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? The last 13 years. Hardest work I've ever done: learning and letting go, to give space and be quiet.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? That soft green light of the sun shining through leaves.
Where would you most like to live? New Orleans.
What is your most treasured possession? My Granny's knitting patterns, everyone in my family has touched, held and worked on them.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? 13 years ago, trapped in my head and in my bed, lol.
What is your favorite occupation? Language Warriors. They preserve and carry on cultures.
What is your most marked characteristic? Protector.
What do you most value in your friends? Kindness and gentleness.
Who are your favorite writers? Hermann Hesse, Thich Nhat Hanh, WP Kinsella, Agatha Christie, Honoré de Balzac.
Who is your hero of fiction? Atticus Finch.
Which historical figure do you most identify with? Black Elk.
Who are your heroes in real life? My Papa Bear, Ian Siegl; my sister, Maria Siegl; my Maman, Adeline August.
What are your favorite names? Rémy, Talulah, Gabriel.
What is it that you most dislike? Cowardice.
What is your greatest regret? Not speaking my truth sooner.
How would you like to die? In a place that is cool, refreshing, and full or light.
What is your motto? Forward movement only. Don't let fear stop you.
For an in-depth interview with Audrey Siegl, check out the MsRepresent: Behind the Face, a Fierce Woman podcast.
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