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Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

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Belonging

Indigenous Reconciliation

The Township of Woolwich is committed to taking the necessary steps towards healing and reconciliation with the Indigenous Community. 

Territorial Acknowledgement

The Township of Woolwich Council adopted the inclusion of a territorial acknowledgement statement to be read at all Council Meetings and Committees of Council Meetings.

If you would like to use the statement that is acknowledged at Council, it is available below.

"Woolwich Township is situated on the land traditionally cared for by the Attawandaron, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge and philosophies of the Indigenous People with whom we share this land today.  We recognize our responsibility to serve as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us."

Reconciliation Action Partnership

The Reconciliation Action Partnership is a region-wide collaboration between the Region and all area municipalities, to address key themes of concerns expressed by local Indigenous communities, see meaningful relationships enhanced between settlers and Indigenous people, and to uphold our commitments made to respond to the Calls to Action laid out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

This approach will support the many voices of the local Indigenous communities to address the systemic issues and barriers for Indigenous peoples that are inherent in municipal processes, services, programs, and spaces in Waterloo Region. Embarking on the development of a region-wide Reconciliation Action Partnership in collaboration with local Indigenous communities is an important next step in the Region’s journey toward truth and reconciliation.

As we continue this journey of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we are learning along the way. We recognize the importance of being open, transparent, and accountable for the Reconciliation Action Plan and all subsequent actions.

It was quickly identified that a siloed approach to reconciliation initiatives will not benefit the Indigenous communities that we serve. A Reconciliation Action Partnership (RAP) consisting of staff from the Region and all area municipalities was formed to work closely with Indigenous communities to advance reconciliation, including working collaboratively on the development of a municipal Reconciliation Action Plan.

Through the RAP, municipal partners provide support and leadership to move the work forward within their respective municipality consistently and collaboratively. Within the working group, several sub-committees have been established to support this work. The themes explored by the subcommittees impact every part of the organization. To further advance this work, staff from the Region and area municipalities have formed six (6) subcommittees to lead work in specific areas of focus as outlined in the figure below.

 

Every Child Matters / National Day for Truth and Reconciliation


flags on top of the township administration buildingSeptember 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In previous years, this date has been recognized as Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters, a day to witness and honour the healing journey of residential school survivors

and their families. For the second year in a row, municipalities across Waterloo Region will be commemorating September 30th, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.

Orange shirts commemorate the story of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor who was stripped of her new orange shirt when she attended residential school as a six-year-old child. In Phyllis’ words, “The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing.”

Indigenous communities have called upon non-Indigenous people to be accountable for their own learning as an important part of the Truth and Reconciliation process, and the enclosed kit includes a list of events and ideas for learning on September 30th and beyond.

While September 30th is an important moment to stop, reflect, learn and act, we would like to make clear that this is a year round process and continual journey forward.

 Indigenous Education

Many resources were made available to Township staff to educate themselves on the legacy impacts of the Residential School System, and the overall history of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The following list of materials provide an opportunity to watch, read and listen.

 Watch

Below are a number of videos to choose from for a valuable learning experience.

Title

Source

Producer

Length

Phyllis Webstad Orange Shirt Day Presentation

Watch on YouTube

Orange Shirt Society

7 minutes

Senator Murray Sinclair: What is Reconciliation?

Watch on YouTube

Truth & Reconciliation Commission 

3 minutes

Reconciliation is Dead by Lori Campbell

Watch on YouTube

TEDx KitchenerED

10 minutes

What non-Indigenous Canadians need to know

Watch on YouTube

TVO

5 minutes

Survivor Panel on Missing Children

Watch on YouTube

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

2 hours

We Were Children

Rentonline 

National Film Board

1 hour 23 minutes

The Walk a Mile Film Project

Borrowby mail

CommonWord 

1 hour 8 minutes

We can’t make the same mistake twice

Streamonline

National Film Board

2 hours 43 minutes

ConnectR Video Library

Stream online 

Various

Various

Indigenous Film Catalogue (Various films)

Stream online

Various

Various

Read

Below is a list of reading materials to help broaden your knowledge of Indigenous History in Canada and the Residential School System.  

If possible, purchases can be made from an Indigenous book seller such as GoodMinds.

 

Title

Author

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America

Thomas King 

Unsettling Canada

Arthur Manuel

The Reconciliation Manifesto: Recovering the Land Rebuilding the Economy  

Arthur Manuel

Thinking in Indian: A John Mohawk Reader

John Mohawk

We share our matters

Rick Monture

And Grandma Said...Iroquois Teachings, as passed down through the oral tradition

Tom Porter

Seven Fallen Feathers 

Tanya Talaga

Indigenous Writes: A guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada

Chelsea Vowel

A reconciliation reading list: 15 must read books

Various

River Woman 

Katherena Vermette

In My Own Moccasins  

Helen Knott

If I Go Missing

Brianna Jonnie with Nahanni Shingoose

Listen

Below are a number of podcasts available on multiple platforms to hear from subject matter experts on Indigenous matters.

Title

Host/creator

Availability

One Dish One Mic

Sean VanderKlis and Karl Dockstader

Listen live

Residential Schools

Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais for Historica Britannica

Appleor Spotify

Still Here Still Healing

Jade Roberts

Appleor Spotify

Unreserved

Rosanna Deerchild

CBC Listen

Warrior Life

Pam Palmater

SoundCloud

7 Indigenous-themed podcasts

Various

CBC Listen

Learning

Below are different ways to incorporate learning for teams, families or individuals.

Team Learning

Below are several Team Learning Ideas, which can be used for group learning.

  • Purchase orange shirts from an Indigenous organization (see resource list) or wear your own orange shirts
  • Watch a video together and discuss as a team (see resource list)
  • Sign up for a Woodland Cultural Centre virtual tour
  • Make a team donation to the Woodland Cultural Centreor to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliationor its affiliated funds
  • Make plans to visit the Huron Natural Areain Kitchener to view Indigenous murals  
  • Book a KAIROS Blanket Exercise(virtual or in-person depending upon availability after November 15)
  • Start a book club (see resource list) and commit to regular group discussions
  • Sign up for an open online course like Indigenous Canada(University of Alberta) or Aboriginal WorldviewsandEducation(University of Toronto), and start a discussion group to share reflections 
Family Learning

 Below are several Family Learning ideas that can assist you and your family as a group.

  • Read Spirit Bear’s Guideto the Calls to Action and visit the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society website for kid-friendly resources
  • Learn how to talk with kids about residential schools
  • Help get youth from kindergarten to grade 12 involved in Imagine a Canada

Choose an action to take from the list of 150 Acts of Reconciliation

Individual Learning

Below are several individual learning ideas that can assist with you on your path of learning.

  • Purchase an orange shirt from an Indigenous organization (see resource list) or wear your own orange shirt
  • Using your personal social media accounts, begin following Indigenous accounts (see resource list)
  •  Sign upfor the TRC newsletter
  • Check out resources provided by local public libraries, including book recommendations, programs and more resources 
  • Listen to a podcast or watch a video (see resource list) 
  • Commit to reading Indigenous books, websites and reports (see resource list)
  • Make a donation to the Woodland Cultural Centreor to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation or its affiliated funds
  • Sign up for an open online course like Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta) or Aboriginal WorldviewsandEducation (University of Toronto)  
Additional Resources
Orange Shirt retailers - Note that due to high demand, there is limited availability. 
  • National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Healing of the Seven Generations
  • Orange Shirt Day 
  • ORANGE SHIRT PRODUCTS – Turtle Lodge Trading Post Inc

Websites 

  • Orange Shirt Day– website of the Orange Shirt Society
  • Summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
    • Read it here.
    • Or listen to it here.
    • Read the 94 Calls to Action here.
    • Purchase a Calls to Action booklet here.
  • An Overview of the Indian Residential School System– a resource by the Union of Ontario Indians/Anishinabek Nation
  • Reports of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls  
  • Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada 
  • Interactive map of residential schools 
  • 21 things you may not know about the Indian Act
  • Chanie Wenjack
2022 Community Events

Below is a list of 2022 events being held in Waterloo Region

 September 16 - Every Child Matters Honorary Crosswalk Ceremony

The Every Child Matters Honorary Crosswalk Ceremony will be held at 12:00pm on September 16 on Jubilee Drive in Kitchener – all are welcome. Visit the Facebook page for more details

September 21 - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation: Virtual Tour of the Mohawk Institute Residential School

September 21, from 9:30 to 11 am - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation: Virtual Tour of the Mohawk Institute Residential School. Waterloo Public Library Event.

September 24 - WISC POW WOW 2022
The Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre is proud to present the 19 Annual Traditional POW WOW. This free event is being held at Waterloo Park from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
 September 30 - Cambridge Orange Shirt Day

Cambridge is hosting an even in recognition of Orange Shirt Day, also known as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Cambridge Sculpture Garden from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. More information can be found on the Event Page. This event is open to all.

 September 30 - Healing of the Seven Generations 

Healing of the Seven Generations will be hosting another commemorative walk in downtown Kitchener, stay tuned to their website for details.

 

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