I’m taking a week’s hiatus from reconciliation because of a conversation I had with my daughter. She is 6, and she just had a birthday. I bit the bullet and bought her a Barbie. It was a “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” moment, and she was introduced to them through an Aunt and loooooves them. So, … [Continue reading] The Systemic Nature of Whiteness
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Role Models – Reconciliation is a Verb part 6
So….how did the challenge last week go? What new reality did you become aware of? Who did you speak with? What did you listen to? This week we’ll expand our awareness by considering whose land we are on (#61 on the list), and looking for Indigenous role models (#65). Whose Land? Early on in … [Continue reading] Role Models – Reconciliation is a Verb part 6
Stretch Yourself – Reconciliation Part 5
Which podcast or radio show did you listen to this past week? If you’re like me, I finally cleared some time and listened to a podcast on Monday night…and discovered someone I worked with years ago has released an album! So exciting. Jeremy Dutcher is Wolastoq (an Indigenous nation in New … [Continue reading] Stretch Yourself – Reconciliation Part 5
More than what you know – Reconciliation Part 4
Last week I wrote about cultural appropriation. I hope you were able to notice and discover some of the ways we do that with Indigenous cultures. This week is about knowledge, exposure and awareness. Most of the items on the 150 ways list are about information and learning. They include … [Continue reading] More than what you know – Reconciliation Part 4
Cultural Appropriation…?
Part 3 in the Reconciliation Series. This week I’m thinking about cultural appropriation as I consider reconciliation. Obviously, these two don’t mix. First of all, what does it mean to appropriate a culture? It means we are taking something and using it as if it were ours. In so doing, we … [Continue reading] Cultural Appropriation…?
Awareness about Indigenous Realities
Reconciliation is a Verb Series – part 2 One of the foundational pieces to change is awareness. That’s not a new phenomenon; it just makes sense. So to kick start the series, here are a few important things to provide context for reconciliation work. Colonization is devastating. If you’re not … [Continue reading] Awareness about Indigenous Realities
Reconciliation is a Verb
This past weekend I was reflecting on Canada Day (you can read past blogs here), and how different the narrative is this year – specifically, how I haven’t heard the strong Indigenous voices and narrative that Canada’s 150 celebration brought up last year. I know that activism takes its toll. … [Continue reading] Reconciliation is a Verb
Right or Happy?
In April I attended The Mastery of Self Expression. One of the things I was challenged with there was to examine if I wanted to be right or happy. Both! I said, laughing. But it’s no joke. Which one? What I’m discovering is that the desire to be right keeps me in my pain, in the muck, in the … [Continue reading] Right or Happy?
The Gay Glass Ceiling
If you live in Toronto or another city celebrating this month, Happy Pride! It’s Pride week here and all month rainbow flags have been waving all over the city. In fact, Scotiabank has PROUD in large letters outside their plaza. I walked by it the other day, remembering a time not too long ago … [Continue reading] The Gay Glass Ceiling
The Systemic Nature of Bias
On Monday, Starbucks Canada closed their stores for Anti-Bias training, and I was on the radio again to speak about it; this time with Alan Neal at CBC Ottawa’s All in a Day. What strikes me the most about conversations regarding bias is that we tend to focus on behaviours and individuals. This … [Continue reading] The Systemic Nature of Bias