Current Events | Be a ConnectR

Red Dress Day: Take Action

Red Dress Day: Take Action is a series of resources shared by Amnesty International ahead of May 5, 2024 to provide information on the day and how to be part of the movement.

The Highway

Current Events, Heart, Watch

The Highway is a music video and song by N’we Jinan artists about the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people along the highway of tears.

Watch this video on Red Dress Day as part of your honouring of those missing and the loved ones they left behind.

Their Voices Will Guide Us

Current Events, Heart, Kids/Family, Learn/Education

Their Voices Will Guide Us is an educational and outreach initiative of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls intended to facilitate critical thinking, purposeful reflection, and dialogue around the perceptions and lived realities of Indigenous women and girls, including members of 2SLGBTQQIA communities. This is a good learning resources for Red Dress Day.

Canada’s Collaborative Modern Treaty Implementation Policy

Current Events, Head, Read, This Land

Learn about Canada’s Collaborative Modern Treaty Implementation Policy, which the government hopes will advance reconciliation and support the full, effective and timely implementation of all Modern Treaties in Canada.

Land back 2023

Current Events, Head, Read, This Land

Calls for a return of Indigenous sovereignty over traditional territories have gained momentum in recent years, here are three places the Land Back movement unfolded in 2023.

Attend an event against racism

Body, Current Events, Participate

Be an ally and stand up against racial injustice. Find an anti-racism rally, walk, event or other gathering in your community and attend. Bring a friend or family member.

Respect Indigenous values in business

Business, Current Events, Head, Watch

Tabatha Bull, COO of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, speaks with BNN Bloomberg to discuss the role of Indigenous people in resource projects. She says Corporate Canada needs to respect Indigenous values and timelines.

Attend Truth and Reconciliation education events

Body, Current Events, Participate

Attend Truth and Reconciliation education events and programs in your city. The local Reconciliation Circle (including Reconciliation Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, or Nipawin) are a great resource to use.

Attend Indigenous Movements

Body, Current Events, Participate

Attend Indigenous movements aimed at decolonization in your city, look at joining protests, walks, and other events.

Attend an anti-racism workshop

Body, Current Events, Participate

Grow your knowledge by attending a workshop on anti-racism. Learn what it means to be anti-racist and pass that knowledge on.

Negotiation and implementation of modern treaties

Current Events, Facts & Figures, Head, Watch

Find out what motivates the Government of Canada to negotiate and implement modern treaties – in the first episode on the negotiation of modern treaties.

Decolonization Is for Everyone

Current Events, Heart, Safe Spaces, Watch

While this history is not your fault, but it is absolutely your responsibility, says Nikki Sanchez during her TEDx Talk, Decolonization Is for Everyone. She discusses what colonization looks like and how it can be addressed through decolonization. An equitable and just future depends on the courage we show today.

Online Indigenous Education Podcast — Lunchtime Decolonization

Current Events, Head, Watch

Think Indigenous – Online Indigenous Education Podcast hosts Dr. Marie Battiste. For their second episode of Lunchtime Decolonization. Dr. Battiste has written and lectured extensively on cognitive imperialism, Indigenous knowledge and the humanities, and the decolonization of Indigenous education.

A Beginner’s Guide to Decolonization

Current Events, Head, Listen, Watch

This TEDx Talk is A Beginner’s Guide to Decolonization. Decolonization is a word that is often met with resistance. But there is something better. Decolonization can be an invitation for all Canadians to be a part of something good and to leave behind a better version of the country for generations to come.

What is Decolonization? What is Indigenization?

Current Events, Head, Politics & Leaders, Read

What is Decolonization? What is Indigenization? And what does it mean to dismantle colonial structures while recreating processes to ensure Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.

Blending Traditional art and pop culture

Art & Music, Current Events, Heart, Read

Meet the Indigenous artists blending traditional art forms with pop culture, modern medical images — Artists combining Woodlands painting or beadwork with Lego men, COVID-19 and more

Rivers to Success

Current Events, Heart, Read, Safe Spaces

Love a great good-news story? Want to be part of creating strong systems to ensure the sustained success of Indigenous students as they graduate and go on to become the leaders of tomorrow? Check out Rivers to Success: Indigenous Student Mentorship Program by Indspire.

Indigenous Stories of Success

Current Events, Heart, Read

Are you tired of always reading or hearing negative stories about how Indigenous people are treated in Canada? Here are stories of Indigenous Success — 85 examples of reconciliation in action!

Create opportunities to honour trailblazers

Body, Current Events, Participate, Spirit

Indigenous Trailblazers who helped us to get to where we are today. Create opportunities to learn about Indigenous trailblazers in your systems and community and honour them.

Indspire Change @ Home

Current Events, Heart, Watch

Be inspired by tuning into recordings of the Indspiring Change @ Home series of thought-provoking virtual events Indspire.

Chatelaine magazine’s roundup of inspirational changemakers

Current Events, Heart, Politics & Leaders, Watch

Jody Wilson-Raybould, Jennifer Harper, Autumn Peltier make Chatelaine magazine’s annual roundup of inspirational change-makers – see why in this 30 second video from APTN News.

Watch: Celebrating Indigenous Artists and Changemakers

Current Events, Heart, Watch

The names you need to know as Etalk celebrates Indigenous artists and changemakers who are making waves in their industries and beyond.

Celebrate Indigenous Trailblazers

Current Events, Heart, Read

Learn about, celebrate, and honour Indigenous Trailblazers who are making a difference in their communities, and for their people. Trailblazers can be artists, athletes, activists and advocates, scientists and researchers, and more.

Webinar: Duty to Consult

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Sociology Conversations: Engaging with Metis Communities and Duty to Consult is a webinar and panel discussion hosted by the Department of Sociology and Social Studies at the University of Regina. The conversation looks at the Duty to Consult, a government obligation to consult with Indigenous communities about issues, such as resource extraction, that may affect treaty or Indigenous rights.

Participate in events for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Body, Current Events, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Engage in relationship building as part of your reconciliation journey. Consider organizing or participating in activities for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This Guide & Toolkit from the Calgary Foundation gives lots of ideas on how to start.

Modern Treaties and Self-Governing Agreements

Body, Current Events, Participate, Politics & Leaders

Learn more about modern treaties and self-governing agreements in Canada. What is close to you? Whitecap Dakota Nation is an example of a community with a plan for self governance. Where else?

Learn about Duty to Consult in your Area

Body, Current Events, Participate

Learn about how the Duty to Consult is being used near you. Research a story about land or resources close to your community that are being affected by the Duty to Consult.

Watch: Duty to Consult

Business, Current Events, Head, Watch

Scholar Kevin Lamoureux walks viewers through how the call to action #92 relates to economic development in Canada and the importance of the duty to consult in this video Duty to Consult.

Indigenous Governance: Diversity and Relationality, a conversation

Current Events, Head, Politics & Leaders, Watch

Learn about Indigenous Governance: Diversity and Relationality in this 5-minutes recorded conversation with Drs. Tracy Bear and Paul Gareau shared by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Natives Studies.

Watch: What are Modern Treaties?

Current Events, Head, This Land, Watch

Understanding Our Treaties created a series of videos including on exploring significant events after the first Modern Treaty was signed and how they impacted the progress of Modern Treaty negotiations today. Learn more in What are Modern Treaties?

Read: What is the Crown’s Duty to Consult?

Current Events, Facts & Figures, Head, Read, This Land

You’ve heard that Indigenous People need to be consulted when it comes to pipelines and other projects, but what does that mean? Law firm Goldblatt Partners share information in What is the Crown’s Duty to Consult and Accommodate Indigenous peoples?

The Duty to Consult: 5 FAQs

Current Events, Facts & Figures, Head, Reconciliation 101, This Land

There is a duty to consult Indigenous groups when the Crown contemplates actions that may adversely affect rights under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. But, what does this mean? The law firm McInnes Cooper tackles this in The Duty to Consult Indigenous Groups: 5 FAQs

How to change systemic racism in Canada

Current Events, Heart, Reconciliation 101, Watch

What does racism look like in Canada? In this web series called “First Things First,” Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, tells us the story of Jordan River Anderson and why she continues to fight the Canadian government to gain rights for Indigenous children.

What systemic racism in Canada looks like

Current Events, Head, Watch

CBC News created a video in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd and the protests that followed, talking about Systemic racism in Canada and what it looks like.

8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Current Events, Facts & Figures, Head, Health & Wellness, Read

Read about 8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada. These concerns are complex and inexorably intertwined – so much so that government, researchers, policymakers and Indigenous leaders seem hamstrung by the enormity. The roots of these issues lie in the Indian Act and colonialism.

Watch: What is Racism? 101

Current Events, Head, Reconciliation 101, Watch

This 5-minute video, What is Racism? 101, is a brief explanation of Racism, Bigotry, Power, and Privilege. There are also suggestions on how to be anti-racist.

Join the fight to dismantle racial inequity

Current Events, Heart, Participate, Read

The article, 12 things white people can do now because Ferguson, looks at some ways for white people to become white allies who are engaged thoughtfully and critically, and standing on the side of justice and equity. The list is a good place to start your fight to dismantle racial inequity and shine a light on oppressive structures.

Answer the Calls from the National Inquiry into MMIWG

Current Events, Heart, Participate, Read, Support

Read the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice and see how you can help ensure these calls are answered.
This is a good resource for Red Dress Day.

Re-Igniting Sacred Fires

Current Events, Participate, Safe Spaces, Spirit, Support

Engage with the Re-Igniting Sacred Fires project from Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan. A project that honours and commemorates the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit individuals, and raises awareness of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice, and the Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ who have been lost.

Watch: MMIWG a Canadian Responsibility

Current Events, Heart, Reconciliation 101, Watch

Sophie Kiwala, former MPP for Kingston and the Islands, speaks to Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls being a Canadian Responsibility and that true reconciliation can only be achieved when it exists in the hearts and minds of every Canadian in this talk given at TEDxQueensU.

Gender and Indigenous Issues

Current Events, Head, Read, Safe Spaces

Read Gender and Indigenous Issues, a paper from the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Indigenous Sovereignty in Canada

Cultural Understandings, Current Events, Head, Participate

Learn about Indigenous Sovereignty in Canada in an article shared by The Indigenous Foundation. Indigenous Sovereignty arises from Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, belonging to each Indigenous nation, tribe, and community.

How UNDRIP Changes Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples

Current Events, Head, This Land, Watch

The Centre for International Governance Innovation and the University of Saskatchewan Wiyasiwewin Mikiwahp Native Law Centre released this 5-minute video on How UNDRIP Changes Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples

Our Rights: Indigenous Youth on UNDRIP

Current Events, Heart, Watch, Youth Perspective

Developed by First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth from across Canada who participated in the language of their choice, this video, Our Rights: Indigenous Youth on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, promotes their perspectives on UNDRIP.

The Creation of UNDRIP

Current Events, Head, Read, Reconciliation 101

Learn about how the United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) came to be and how Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States initially refused to sign the declaration before reversing their position 4 years later.

United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples

Current Events, Head, Read, Reconciliation 101

Learn about the United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007. This document is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Recognizing harm to First Nations children and families

Current Events, Head, Read, True History

Read the final settlement agreement from the Moushoom and Trout class action lawsuits for compensation for First Nations children and families harmed by discriminatory underfunding of the First Nations Child and Family Services program and the federal government’s narrow definition of Jordan’s Principle.

Commemorate Orange Shirt Day

Current Events, Heart, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Do something to commemorate Orange Shirt Day – have a conversation with friends and family; advocate for your workplace to make Sept. 30 a day of reflection; attend community events.

Murray Sinclair on the next steps for Canada toward Reconciliation

Current Events, Heart, Reconciliation 101, Residential Schools, Watch

Former senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Murray Sinclair, talks to The National’s Adrienne Arsenault about the steps Canada needs to take on the path toward reconciliation.

Avoiding Performative Reconciliation

Current Events, Heart, Reconciliation 101, Watch

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould brings her unique perspective as both a community and political leader to speak to Avoiding Performative Reconciliation in this Speakers Spotlight video

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