Sometimes when we talk about an issue, and when we are talking about the right things and using the right language, it’s easy to miss when the talk changes to just words. That’s how I felt watching the video clip of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s response to activists “crashing” the Liberal …
Indigenous peoples
Sacred Space – Reconciliation is a Verb Part 8
It’s the end of the summer holidays and this will be the last post in my reconciliation is a verb series. And it’s a good one! It’s one thing to write about something. It’s another to experience it. Last week I spent 4 days on Manitoulin Island. It was my mom’s 80th birthday trip and she, …
[Continue reading] Sacred Space – Reconciliation is a Verb Part 8
What Can a Day Do? – Reconciliation is a Verb Part 7
Before I get into today's topic, how did your role model search go? I found a book at the Glad Day Bookshop that I put on my list to read. It’s by Neel Patel and it’s called If You See Me Don’t Say Hi. It’s stories of his experience as a Native American. I also thought of Susan Aglukart …
[Continue reading] What Can a Day Do? – Reconciliation is a Verb Part 7
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
What a Verdict Tells us About Racism
This is a hard blog to write. And I can't even find an appropriate image. I was all set to write about happier things, like the new Gerber baby, but… The verdict in the Colten Boushie murder trial is heartbreaking and infuriating – and, sadly, not surprising. It’s one more story in a large …