The International Indigenous Speakers’ Bureau has an incredible range of speakers that can address topics from health/wellness, arts, history to business and sports: “IISB is about creating opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to connect, and build bridges, by providing access to a wealth of Indigenous Speakers around the world.”
The Assembly of First Nations honoured Ethan Bear for his accomplishments and already outstanding career. The 2017 WHL defenceman of the year had a breakout campaign and led the Seattle Thunderbirds to a WHL Championship. Bear, 20, was also one of the league’s highest-scoring blueliners, registering 28 goals and 70 points through 67 games.
Follow these links for more opportunities to listen and watch Chief Dr. Robert Joseph invite all Canadians to become active participants in the journey of Reconciliation:
Healing a Nation Through Truth and Reconciliation | TEDxEastVan
Profiles of Indigenous Olympians
Canadian Indigenous athletes have made incredible contributions to our country’s legacy in sports. Read about athletes past and present in these articles.
Harold Cardinal was elected chief of the Sucker Creek band in 1982-83 and was appointed vice-chief for the prairie region of the National Indian Brotherhood. Cardinal published the ‘Red Paper’ (titled Citizens Plus) that argued strongly against the assimilatory goals of the federal government’s White Paper (the Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy).
Harry Daniels was one of the founding members of the Saskatchewan Métis Society. He is most widely known as the man who negotiated the expressed inclusion of “Métis People” in the Canadian Constitution, thereby enshrining Métis rights in the constitution.
Walter Dieter was a Cree person of the Peepeekisis Indian Band in Saskatchewan. He was one of the founders of the National Indian Brotherhood and served as the first National Chief from 1968 to 1970.
Gabriel Dumont rose to political prominence in an age of declining buffalo herds and was concerned about the ongoing economic prosperity and political independence of his people. He is best known for his role in the 1885 North-West Resistance as a key Métis military commander and an ally of Louis Riel.
James Gladstone was Canada’s first Indigenous senator. He was president of the Indian Association of Alta (IAA) and three times was a delegate to Ottawa to discuss proposed changes in the Indian Act. He played a prominent part in the fight for better education, greater respect for treaty rights, and participation of Aboriginals in their own administration.
Elijah Harper was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Manitoba in 1981, in 1986 he was appointed to cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio Responsible for Native Affairs, and in 1987 was appointed as Minister of Northern Affairs. In 1990, while sitting as an opposition member in the Manitoba Legislature, he blocked the Canadian constitutional amendment known as the Meech Lake Accord due to a lack of participation of Indigenous peoples in the process.
Louis Riel led the Métis in two resistances during 1869-70 in Red River and in 1885 in the Saskatchewan District of the North-West Territories. He was instrumental in the creation of Manitoba as a province and is a centrally important figure in Métis history.
John Tootoosis was an influential First Nations leader in Saskatchewan. He was appointed chief of Poundmaker at the age of 20, and in 1959 he was elected as the first President of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians.
This useful tool from The Canadian Encyclopedia offers a detailed historical timeline of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, which can be organized by theme or historical periods.
CBC’s As It Happens on the Truth & Reconciliation Commission
It’s a call for a nation-wide commitment to Reconciliation. After six years of hearings and testimony, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission put forward 94 recommendations to address the “cultural genocide” of Aboriginal peoples through Canada’s residential school system. Listen to interviews on CBC’s As It Happens to hear from the Commissioners
Dr. Yvonne Boyer is a lawyer, an academic, and a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario with her ancestral roots in the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and the Red River. She currently serves as a Senator for Ontario and is the first Senator from Ontario to identify as Indigenous.
Senator Lillian Dyck is the first First Nations woman appointed to the Canadian Senate and the first Canadian-born Chinese person appointed to the Senate. Prior to entering political life, she was an academic and senior administrator at the University of Saskatchewan.
Robert Falcon-Ouellette is from Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan and was raised in Calgary. He is the Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre.
Wabanakwut (Wab) Kinew is a hip hop artist, broadcaster, university administrator, author, and politician. He became the leader of the Manitoba NDP in 2017.
Senator Murray Sinclair served the justice system in Manitoba for over 25 years and was the first Aboriginal judge appointed in Manitoba and the second ever in Canada. He served as Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in Manitoba and as Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould is the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada. She is a lawyer, advocate, and is a former Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations.
“ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide is intended to provide individuals with a basic outline of Aboriginal protocol and governance systems in order to facilitate improved relationship building either as co-workers, through business opportunities or through inclusion in specific projects.”
The Heritage Minutes are a collection of bilingual Canadian 60-second short films, each depicting a significant person, event or story in Canadian history. First released in 1991, they have been shown on television, in cinemas and online, and have become a part of Canadian culture.
Everyone, at some point in their journey of Reconciliation, needs to read the 94 Calls to Action recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to “redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.” Or connect here to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Final Report to read other sections and excerpts.
We have included this action in every category and every path on this website as a reminder of how important it is for us to understand the history and path of Reconciliation in our country.
CBC Reports on Cornwallis Statue Removal
Halifax regional council voted 12-4 in favour of putting a statue of Edward Cornwallis, Halifax’s controversial city founder, into storage. Read the full story and learn how this event relates to moving ahead for Reconciliation. Photo by Craig Paisley/CBC.
