Dear friends in the Spirit of right relations,
It has been a momentous week! New cabinet ministers, the opening of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and the launch of the KAIROS campaign “Education for Reconciliation.” It feels like the winds of the Spirit are dancing across the land! Read on….
KAIROS WINDS OF CHANGE CAMPAIGN: PETITION FOR CURRICULA CHANGES
The KAIROS and Legacy of Hope campaign Education for Reconciliation is here. It responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #62. It urges provincial and territorial governments to ensure that students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 learn about Indian Residential Schools, Treaties, and the contributions made by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to Canada. KAIROS and the Legacy of Hope Foundation have prepared petitions for each province and territory and we can help to gather signatures.
You will find background information and everything you need to get involved in Education for Reconciliation at: www.kairoscanada.org/windsofchange. Here are ways to get started:
- A campaign toolkit that includes announcements and short talks, and an introductory participatory workshop
- Petitions and background information specific to your province or territory
- Links to background information and partner organizations
- Teach our Children, a two-minute video to introduce the campaign
CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW CABINET MINISTERS
New Minister for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett says the best advice she got for her new role is “Consider yourself the minister of reconciliation.” http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/11/04/carolyn-bennett-minister-of-indigenous-and-northern-affairs.html
Former regional chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations, Jody Wilson Raybould was named the Minister of Justice.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/justice-minister-jody-wilson-raybould-1.3303609
OPENING OF NATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
More news stories as the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation held its opening events Nov. 3-4. Elder Lorna Standingready from the United Church is featured in this piece from the CBC, which also links to a story on the items presented to the TRC and placed in the Bentwood box — including the broken chalice presented by the United Church in 2011 (Russ Daye and Kathryn Fournier as co-chairs of the LIRR National Task group and Moderator Tindal).
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/national-centre-truth-reconciliation-winnipeg-1.3301305
KAIROS FRACKING FORUM
If you missed the excellent presentations of the Fracking Forum held in Moncton and Vancouver on Oct. 30-31, or want to hear them again, you can watch them online:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/what-we-do/ecological-justice/fracking-forum-watch-online/
6 RECONCILIATION ART PROJECTS
Selected from 190 submissions by a panel of indigenous arts professionals, six pilot projects are receiving up to $75,000 of federal funding through the Canada Council for the Arts and its partners — J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. The initiative aims to promote themes of conciliation and reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
Joseph Boyden and filmmaker Terrill Calder will be touring the film “Project Charlie” in 2016.
Elder Samuel Thomas will be “Calling residential school survivors, their descendants, the United Church of Canada and Anglican Church to participate in public beading sessions [to create panels for doors salvaged from residential schools]. Thomas hopes the workshops create an opportunity “to really open the dialogue up.” It is hoped that folks in Hamilton Conference will be involved.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/boyden-to-take-residential-school-film-on-road-in-conjunction-with-new-novel-1.2640470
SETTING HISTORY RIGHT – NEW MEMORIAL PLAQUE FOR DUNCAN CAMPBELL SCOTT
Duncan Campbell Scott’s role in establishing the residential school system now included on memorial plaque.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/duncan-campbell-scott-plaque-updated-1.3299062?cmp=rss
CENTRE FOR CHRISTIAN STUDIES – SOCIAL MINISTRY CIRCLE FOCUS ON ‘TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION’
http://ccsonline.ca/2015/10/social-ministry-fall-2015-learning-circle-week-three/
DR. PAM PALMATER’S VISION OF “TAKING BACK KANADA”
A frank 90 minute talk on viewing Canada as “a territory made up of many nations” and as an ecosystem, and how racism is killing indigenous people. Let’s change the conversation from “Why don’t you just get over it?” to “Why don’t you just stop doing it?” Glen Coulthard introduces Pamela Palmater for this discussion on taking back Canada from the irreparable harm done to the environment, the economy, and the basic democratic and human rights of Canadians.
http://rabble.ca/rabbletv/program-guide/2015/10/best-net/watch-pamela-palmater-on-taking-back-canada
RECONCILING EDMONTON
Reconciliation in Solidarity Edmonton (RISE) has created a network of people committed to reconciliation by connecting people via social media and through our newsletter. You can follow them and join in the conversations they are creating here:
www.facebook.com/RISEdmonton. They are planning an event at Edmonton City Hall called “Reconciling Edmonton” on Nov. 25 from 6-8 pm including a round dance. To RSVP, visit: www.ReconcilingYEG.eventbrite.ca. For information on their project visit:https://www.makesomethingedmonton.ca/projects/915-rise-reconciling-edmonton-reconcilingyeg/
In peace,
Cecile Fausak
Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator
General Council Office: Committee on Indigenous Justice and Residential Schools
780-676-0562 (office cell)
780-675-7753 (Athabasca, AB home office)
All My Relations Network, Sask Conference, UCC 