(Article courtesy: Bob McKechnie)
Relations between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians are more in the public consciousness these days, because of recent findings of hundreds of unmarked graves at residential school sites.
If you are interested in getting more background on Reconciliation here are some links you can use.
First, a couple of short current interviews with Indigenous spokespersons. Worth a quick read, as they are an encouraging introduction to the topic.
Source: CBC: The National Cowessess First Nation chief on ‘heartbreaking’ discovery of unmarked graves | CBC.ca
“From a First Nation perspective, I love living in Canada. I went to university, I grew up on Cowessess, I have the best job I think I ever wanted, being chief. It’s not an easy task. But there is an accidental racism and ignorance in this country when it comes to history. You know, Indigenous people – and I’m speaking from Cowessess perspective – we don’t want to live in our current state. We want to be part of the economy. We want to be part of the growth… the social lives.
Sometimes in this country, being Indigenous, it’s as if you gotta prove yourself a little more. You’re so used seeing maybe, someone asking for change and being Indigenous… you know, there’s a story behind every one, of the history that we inherited. So my comment to everybody listening is, from Cowessess, we’re not asking for pity. We’re asking for understanding. We’re asking that you stand beside us, that as we are gaining our control again – as Indigenous people – in our Treaty relationship, that we have better understanding. That our kids going to school understand the impact that residential school made, but also even pre… what great economy Indigenous people had prior to Treaty. This country would be so much more well-off, when Indigenous ideology and understanding is welcomed in, and not just brought in on certain days of the year.
(On the debate over whether to cancel Canada Day)
I would never tell somebody what to and what not to celebrate. You know, in 2021, we all inherited this. Nobody today created residential schools. Nobody today created the Indian Act. Nobody today created the Sixties Scoop. But we all inherited this. And if we want to say we’re proud Canadians, then we will accept the beautiful country we have today, and we will accept what we all inherited. And what I would challenge is: Everybody on Canada Day in this country, if you say you’re a proud Canadian, read the Truth and Reconciliation ‘Calls to Action.’ Over 100,000 residential school survivors told their story – including my parents – and they created the Truth and Reconciliation ‘Calls to Action.’ Bring that into your personal life, your social life, your business life. And read the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls ‘Calls to Action.’ There’s 231 Calls to Action. If we can all own those a little bit in this country, in one generation we would overcome so many challenges today, that our next generation won’t inherit this. We will make them more as Dreamers.”
A Globe and Mail interview of July 4/21 with Bob Joseph, an author, trainer, and former Associate Professor at Royal Roads University. I’ve heard Bob speak, and always find him fair and straightforward.
Second, a non-profit organization that has started up to provide a walk through the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. A positive self-education approach, ‘94 in 94’ is one recommendation per day for 94 days from June 29 to Sept 30 (Orange Shirt Day), with a suggested goal of eventually choosing one recommendation one can help with. #94in94 – Reconciliation Thunder
Third, if you want to access further material, here are additional links for your information: Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, Provincial government response, and other info.
https://reconciliationcanada.ca
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reconciliation-in-canada
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1400782178444/1529183710887
A separate national report is the final report of the National Inquiry of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. At the end of the report there is a short section addressed to what individuals Canadians can do.
https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Calls_for_Justice.pdf
Looking forward to more discussions with VMNC members!
– Bob McKechnie
