Reconciliation 101 | Be a ConnectR

National Ribbon Skirt Day

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Jan. 4 is National Ribbon Skirt Day. A day that provides an opportunity for everyone to learn more about and celebrate Indigenous cultures, traditions, histories, and contributions to Canada.
National Ribbon Skirt Day Act
Today is National Ribbon Skirt Day! Here’s how it came to be (From CBC Kids)

Create a reconciliation group

Body, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Find or create a support group of people who are similarly engaged in this journey–from informal coffee chats to monthly meetings!

Create personal calls to action

Body, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Make a list of personal calls to action that move you forward on your journey of Truth and Reconciliation. Add goals and deadlines, and share your plans with friends or family to hold each other accountable.

Duty to Consult Podcast

Head, Listen, Reconciliation 101

Listen to the Duty to Consult podcast to learn more about Canadian Aboriginal Law, its interaction with Indigenous Laws and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Listen The podcast was developed by student researchers at the Centre for Constitutional Studies, University of Alberta.

Attend Events

Body, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Go to an Indigenous event in your community. Ask event organizers if non-Indigenous peoples are welcome and if there are specific protocols you need to be aware of in order to attend.

Walk for Reconciliation

Body, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Participate in, or create, a Walk for Reconciliation in your community. Use the Reconciliation Saskatoon Walk for Reconciliation as an example, watch Building the “Rock Your Roots: Walk for Reconciliation”

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.

Building relationships through conversation

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In August 2021, Peter Lucas hosted a candid conversation between two friends regarding Canada’s relationship with First Nation’s people, land acknowledgements and more. Each person is at a different stage in their journey to learn more about Canada’s history. Watch this relationship building conversation in support of Truth & Reconciliation.

Watch: Reconciliation is about Relationships

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In this TEDx Talk, Reconciliation is about Relationships, Dr. Stryker Calvez a Métis/Michif researcher and educator, introduces people to the understanding that building relationships with Indigenous Peoples is easy. He says the goal of reconciliation isn’t to know everything about Indigenous people, but rather about learning how to be in relationship with them.

7 Tips on Building Relationships with Indigenous Peoples

Business, Cultural Understandings, Heart, Read, Reconciliation 101

According to Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. the quality of your relationship with an Indigenous community will be measured by the effort invested and the integrity of your team. They offer 7 Tips on Building Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

Building Trust Before Truth

Cultural Understandings, Heart, Read, Reconciliation 101

Relationship building with Indigenous peoples, communities, and/or organizations is an important step in reconciliation. Building trust is where it all begins. Read Building Trust Before Truth: How Non-Indigenous Canadians Become Allies.

Treaty Backgrounder

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The Office of the Treaty Commissioner produced this Treaty Backgrounder, because we can all benefit from learning more about the historical events association with Treaty making. The document also speaks to the benefits and responsibilities of the parties in Treaty.

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

Indigenous health in Canada

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Indigenous populations are affected by all social determinants of health, as well as a complex history of colonialism, racism and residential schools. In this video Indigenous health in Canada, learn about common issues experienced by Indigenous individuals in Canada, in particular, the problems they face regarding access to healthcare.

How to change systemic racism in Canada

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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.

Listen: Be Antiracist

Head, Listen, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Be Antiracist, a podcast hosted by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, imagines what an antiracist society might look like and how we all can play an active role in building one. He guides listeners on how they can identify and reject the racist systems hiding behind racial inequity and injustice.

Listen: Become a Good Ancestor

Heart, Listen, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Are you looking for wisdom, courage, and guidance on your journey as a change maker? Tune into Become a Good Ancestor, a podcast hosted by New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author Layla Saad. Saad, is the author of Me and White Supremacy, is a passionate advocate and teacher on the topics of race, identity, leadership, personal transformation, and social change.

Watch: Explaining privilege to children through a race

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The story of the School That Tried to End Racism. Australian journalist Marc Fennell explores a ground-breaking school program designed to provide a class of primary school students with the tools to identify racial bias and make positive change.

Watch: What is Racism? 101

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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.

Watch: MMIWG a Canadian Responsibility

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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.

Make space for Indigenous voices

Business, Head, Participate, Reconciliation 101

Discuss with your colleagues about how your organization incorporates (or needs to incorporate) Indigenous voices and leadership. Work to ensure there are spaces to make Indigenous voices heard.

Who is an Elder?

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Read an Indigenous Elder Definition, a Question and Answer with information on what makes an Elder and protocol for Elders in Indigenous communities.

The Creation of UNDRIP

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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

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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.

Memorial Reckoning

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Watch Memorial Reckoning, the video of a 2021 online conversation on monuments, memorials, and calls for justice, with speakers Prof. Jennifer Scott, Dr. Omeasoo Wāhpāsiw, and Dr. Erin Millions.

Calls to Action Accountability – A Status Update

Body, Participate, Read, Reconciliation 101

Read the Yellowhead Institute special report, Calls to Action Accountability: A 2022 Status Update on Reconciliation. It concludes that a tremendous amount more needs to be done on reconciliation —especially in areas like health, education, child welfare, justice, and Indigenous languages.

Support Truth and Reconciliation Initiatives

Body, Participate, Reconciliation 101, This Land

Support initiatives to rename streets or change public monuments in honour of Truth and Reconciliation in your community.

Learn about Indigenous Justice

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Learn about Indigenous Justice including restorative justice models and Saskatchewan Justice’s Restorative Justice Initiative in this entry from the Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia from the University of Saskatchewan.

Commemorate Orange Shirt Day

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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

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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

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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

Moving Forward on Reconciliation

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The federal government released Moving Forward on Reconciliation from the Department of Finance Canada in April 2022 to show their commitment to a “renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, truth, co-operation, and partnership.”

Reconciliation is making progress — but not quickly enough

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While Canada’s reconciliation project with Indigenous people is showing signs of progress, it’s moving much slower than many had hoped. This CBC article looks at feedback from Indigenous communities, organizations, and leaders.

A Lasting Relationship

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The University of Saskatchewan shares information on Treaty through their Indigenous Voices Online Learning Modules – Read Chapter 7, A Lasting Relationship: The Spirit and Intent of Treaties.

Read: Treaties

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Understand about the covenant that are the Indigenous Treaties in Canada. Read the Canadian Encyclopedia article Treaties with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

The myth of meritocracy

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Learn about the impact of Canada’s colonial history and the myth of meritocracy, in “We built a life from nothing” in Policy Alternatives.

From Church Service to Indigenous Ceremony

Cultural Understandings, Read, Reconciliation 101, Spirit

In this CBC Unreserved article Chantal Fiola talks about her journey of spiritual exploration — from church services to Indigenous ceremonies.

We Are All Treaty People

Head, Read, Reconciliation 101, Safe Spaces, True History

Learn more about Canada’s true history. Gakina Gidagwi’igoomin Anishinaabewiyang: We Are All Treaty People – Understanding the spirit and intent of the Treaties matters to all of us.

Watch: Working Towards Reconciliation

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In this 2018 video from CBC, Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Murray Sinclair says Canadians can work toward reconciliation by reading the report and finding a call to action that interests them.

5 Things You Need To Know about Reconciliation

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5 Things You Need to Know About Reconciliation is a video created in honour of the inaugural Nation Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, 2021 in Canada.

Watch: TRC One Year Later

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A report from 2016, one year after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report on the damage done by Canada’s residential schools. Murray Sinclair, chair of the commission, discusses the progress on the recommendations.

Namwayut: we are all one

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Chief Robert Joseph, ambassador for Reconciliation Canada, shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada in this video by CBC.

Bringing Our Children Home

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Bringing Our Children Home is a series of livestreams from Reconciliation Canada. Candy Palmater, Mi’maw comedian, hosted the discussion on how we are all building the Reconciliation movement, exploring ideas that will help shape the future of Canada.

Vision of Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation

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Learn about reconciliation in Saskatchewan. #BeAConnectR and read the Vision of Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation shared by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner.

DWF Reconciliation

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Learn about reconciliation from the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund and see ideas for engagement and action

Justin Trudeau at the UN

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In 2017 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at the United Nations General Assembly in New York with a focus on reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

Aamer Rahman breaksdown reverse racism

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Comedian Aamer Rahman highlights the systemic global oppression of black and brown people and breaks down “reverse racism,” in this comedy video.

Debunking the Myth of Race

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Vox debunks the Myth of Race in three minutes in this YouTube video.

Implicit Bias

Head, Read, Reconciliation 101

Learn about implicit bias in this article by Edutopia on culturally responsive teaching, A Look at Implicit Bias and Microaggressions

Use archives to answer calls to action

Head, Read, Reconciliation 101

Read reconciliation frameworks that can provide insight into building and answering calls to action for your workplace. The Saskatchewan Archives shares links to the Canadian Archives reconciliation framework.

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