Access to parish records is central to reconciliation and must be released when requested - it is the right and honourable thing to do
National Truth & Reconciliation Day
September 30, 2022
Missing & Murdered
Red Dress Project
Moose Hide Campaign
A Critical Perspective on Celebrating Queen Victoria's Birthday
Timeline of 'Events'
White Privilege
Confronting Christian Dominant Ideology
Timeline of the Land
Timeline of the Crown
The Treaties
The Constitution Act of 1982
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
How BC Provincial Gov & Universities Responded to the Declaration
"Our Great Brother Here"
Two Row Wampum
Belt
"Church" Not What You Think
A Critical Perspective on the Doctrine of Discovery
&
Leif Eriksson, 1st European to North America
Harvest Moon
The Jewish Month of Elul helped us prepare our hearts for forgiveness in September
The Essene & Qumran Communities
&
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Ancient
Feasts of Noah
Solstice
&
Equinox and Solstice Observed by Noah
We are All Treaty People
The words “Treaty means that your identity is bigger than just you” are used both literally and metaphorically.
“It’s tempting to start the story of a long journey, even a journey of realization, with the arrival rather than the first, uncertain, steps. But it’s really those first steps that prepare for everything else.”
“First steps are what this book is about,” writes Matthew Anderson in his preface, and understanding Treaty
is an essential first step.
Treaty – what it meant to the First Nations and to the Newcomers who originally entered into it, and what it could and should mean for all of us today – lies at the heart of this book.
Treaty is key to the shared narrative, shared spirituality, and shared respect for the land that Ray Aldred says are necessary for our peoples – Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike – to walk well, to live well together on the land because Treaty still is, or should be, a lived reality. Treaty doesn’t refer to a one-time, historical event, but to a lasting, daily way of “living well,” in right relation to each other, to the land, and to the Creator.
Still Lots to Do
Provincial Gov
Local Businesses & Organization
Local Gov
Provincially and under the government of John Horgan:
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May 2017 - B.C. committed to implementing the UN Declaration besides committing to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action
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May 2018 - The province released Draft 10 Principles that guide the province of BC's relationship with Indigenous peoples
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November 28, 2019 - The Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples Act passed unanimously.
The new legislation serves as the legislative framework for government-level reconciliation
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It recognizes the constitutional and human rights of Indigenous peoples
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It aligns provincial laws with the internationally recognized standards of the Declaration and the legal rights of Indigenous peoples.
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It implements the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
This aims to build a renewed government-to-government relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. It also aims to address the consequences of colonial policies that have lasting effects on all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
B.C broke it down so simply - four key areas of the legislation:
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Section 3 mandates the government to bring provincial laws into alignment with the UN Declaration,
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Section 4 requires the Province to develop and implement an action plan, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples, to meet the objectives of the UN Declaration
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Section 5 requires regular reporting to the legislature to monitor progress on the alignment of laws and implementation of the action plan, including tabling annual reports by June 30th of each year, and
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Sections 6 and 7 allow for flexibility for the Province to enter into agreements with a broader range of Indigenous governments and to exercise statutory decision-making authority together.
UBCM, Victoria renew Indigenous reconciliation commitments
BCs updated First Nations Engagement Guide for Local Governments
BCs Action Plan
Reconciliation is government-to-government relations through
negotiations rather than litigation
Don Wright, head of the BC Public Service shared the draft principles with all 27,000 public service employees on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.
Local Governments are Not Off the Hook
Indigenous Relations for Local Governments - developed in collaboration with subject matter expert, Tammy Robertson - 13 years of experience in successfully fostering new levels of trust between municipal and Indigenous governments leading to new agreements, joint working groups and projects, and cultural heritage protection practices.
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How to be in a better position to cultivate mutually beneficial agreements with local Indigenous communities.
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How to build relationships that benefit community interests for the long term.
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Information that exceeds the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #57 - educating government employees.
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Who's $$ Pays for What
$$ ... not funded by your taxes ... $$
September 30th, 2021
First
National Truth &
Reconciliation Day
Today Canadians are called to collectively honour the lost children and Survivors of the religiously run government program called Residential School. Our founding fathers, along with the authority and help of religious organizations, created and implemented policy to assimilate all peoples previously on the land into the dominant culture, a culture that was and still is contrary to Indigenous ways of doing and being.
The program was intentionally inhumane and dehumanizing in nature - mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically as many children died. Even though a portion of the children died of natural causes and there was little money for some schools, there is no excuse for these children's utter disregard and neglect. These human actions/inactions were/are contrary to the nature and heart of God. Anyone of true faith would know that any endeavour to "win hearts for Jesus" by force is never blessed by God. Rather, this arrogant and self-righteous mentality that makes one feel superior to anyone else contradicts the heart of said son of God in whose name they claimed to have come.
It is therefore evident that the program was created with no regard for Indigenous Nations, communities, families or individuals. The program's outcome does nothing but prove the intentional oppression, exclusion, and racism implemented to gain power and control over a people group for selfish gain. This behaviour was animalistic and has been given the official title of cultural genocide. The problem is that systematic underpinnings are still active throughout every government system today, and we are going at a snail's pass to correct this. Canada's oppressive and racist origins cannot be changed if the problem stays systematic and the federal government is apathetic to the real issues at hand.
This Year Let's Guague How Far We've Come Since 2008
Canada's #1st National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
ask yourself this ...what does reconciliation mean to me and how can I advance it
Phyllis Webstad
Originally today was called Orange Shirt Day, it is important to recognize the bravery of Phyllis Webstad of the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation as she advocated for this day. Listen to her story. The orange shirt now represents the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem. Wearing an orange shirt today is your declaration that everyone around you matters, to raise awareness of the very tragic legacy of residential schools, and to honour the Survivors who are still with us.
The sense of worthlessness and insignificance that was placed on these children is now a legacy that spans generations. Today we can choose to wear orange as a sign of respect and support. You never know what a simple act of going to Walmart, picking up a $5 orange shirt, and wearing it for one day could do to someone else's heart. Imagine everyone in your city or town wearing orange shirts, an act of kindness and reconciliation goes a long way.
Canada looks forward to Indigenous peoples rising up to rewrite their own legacy that is rooted in their own culture, in the way that suits them best ~ this is none of your business.
"The colour orange has always reminded me of that day and how my feelings didn't matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared" ~Phyllis Webstad, Residential School Survivor
Not a Holiday
(for any non-Indigenous person)
A Day Dedicated to Learning More
A Perspective on Canada's Residential School System
Heading 6
Further Reading for Reflection
For a deeper understanding, please take the time to read the reports on the following websites and watch a short video on timelines
The Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) concerns government policy with respect to the original historical Nations. Those nations are important to Canada, and how Canada relates to them defines in large measure its sense of justice and its image in its own eyes and before the world.
The National Inquiry’s Final Report reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.
Whether a once-marked grave or a never-marked grave, every child matters. The efforts to find each and every one of the children that never made it home is ongoing. Canada must support every effort in order to demonstrate support for individuals, families and communities that were affected. We do this as an act of reconciliation so Nations can begin their 'collective soul wound' journey of healing.
