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."
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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.
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September 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
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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
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Source
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Producer
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Length
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Phyllis Webstad Orange Shirt Day Presentation
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Watch on YouTube
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Orange Shirt Society
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7 minutes
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Senator Murray Sinclair: What is Reconciliation?
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Watch on YouTube
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Truth & Reconciliation Commission
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3 minutes
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Reconciliation is Dead by Lori Campbell
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Watch on YouTube
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TEDx KitchenerED
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10 minutes
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What non-Indigenous Canadians need to know
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Watch on YouTube
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TVO
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5 minutes
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Survivor Panel on Missing Children
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Watch on YouTube
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National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
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2 hours
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We Were Children
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Rentonline
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National Film Board
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1 hour 23 minutes
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The Walk a Mile Film Project
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Borrowby mail
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CommonWord
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1 hour 8 minutes
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We can’t make the same mistake twice
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Streamonline
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National Film Board
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2 hours 43 minutes
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ConnectR Video Library
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Stream online
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Various
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Various
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Indigenous Film Catalogue (Various films)
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Stream online
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Various
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Various
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Bones of Crows
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Stream online
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Various |
2 hours 2 minutes |
Birth of a Family |
Stream online |
National Film Board |
1 hour 19 minutes |
Holy Angels |
Stream online |
National Film Board |
13 minutes |
Second Stories - It Had to Be Done |
Stream online |
National Film Board |
22 minutes |
Stories are in Our Bones |
Stream online |
National Film Board |
11 minutes |
Urban Indigenous Proud: Full Circle |
Stream online |
National Film Board |
8 minutes |
The Road Forward |
Stream online |
National Film Board |
1 hour 41 minutes |
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Read
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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
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Author
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The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America
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Thomas King
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Unsettling Canada
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Arthur Manuel
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The Reconciliation Manifesto: Recovering the Land Rebuilding the Economy
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Arthur Manuel
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Thinking in Indian: A John Mohawk Reader
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John Mohawk
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We share our matters
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Rick Monture
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And Grandma Said...Iroquois Teachings, as passed down through the oral tradition
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Tom Porter
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Seven Fallen Feathers
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Tanya Talaga
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Indigenous Writes: A guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada
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Chelsea Vowel
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A reconciliation reading list: 15 must read books
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Various
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River Woman
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Katherena Vermette
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In My Own Moccasins
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Helen Knott
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If I Go Missing
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Brianna Jonnie with Nahanni Shingoose
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Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation
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Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson
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Listen
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Below are a number of podcasts available on multiple platforms to hear from subject matter experts on Indigenous matters.
Title
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Host/creator
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Availability
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One Dish One Mic
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Sean VanderKlis and Karl Dockstader
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Listen live
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Residential Schools
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Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais for Historica Britannica
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Apple or Spotify
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Still Here Still Healing
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Jade Roberts
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Apple or Spotify
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Unreserved
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Rosanna Deerchild
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CBC Listen
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Warrior Life
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Pam Palmater
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SoundCloud
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7 Indigenous-themed podcasts
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Various
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CBC Listen
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Learning
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Below are different ways to incorporate learning for teams, families or individuals.
Team Learning
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Below are several Team Learning Ideas, which can be used for group learning.
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Family Learning
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Below are several Family Learning ideas that can assist you and your family as a group.
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Individual Learning
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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 up for the TRC newsletter
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Additional Resources
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Orange Shirt retailers - Note that due to high demand, there is limited availability.
Websites
- Orange Shirt Day– website of the Orange Shirt Society
- Summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
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Social Media Accounts
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Below are a number of social media accounts that you can choose to follow:
Facebook
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Instagram |
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TikTok (via app only)
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- Indigenous TikTok @Indigenous.tiktok
- Shina Nova @shinanova
- Michelle Chubb @indigenous_baddie
- James Jones @notoriouscree
- WabKinew @wabkinew
- PamPalmater@pp2cool
- 1752TreatyRightsHolder @mikmakinews
- KendraRosychuk @kendrajessie
- ATribeCalledRed @atribecalledred
- BrandonJoseph @anish_no_bae
- @casper_19692.0 (exampleofoutspoken allyship)
- Vanessa @resilientinuk
- Scott Wabano @scottwabano
- KairynPotts@ohkairyn
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Twitter
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2023 Community Events
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Below is a list of 2023 events being held in Waterloo Region
September 28 - NPAAMB Indigenous Youth Employment and Training Event
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NPAAMB Indigenous Youth Employment and Training will be hosting an event on at Victoria Park in Kitchener from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. More information can be found on the event page. |
September 29 - University of Waterloo Commitment Polishing Ceremony
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The University of Waterloo will be hosting an event at the BMH Green for a Sunrise Ceremony beginning at 7:00 a.m., which will be followed by a Commitment Polishing Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. The Commitment Polishing Ceremony will include a Cedar Circle and Pipe Ceremony. The day will also include speeches, a walk around Ring Road, a feast, drumming and round dance at the BMH Green. You can find more information on their page.
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September 30 - Healing of the Seven Generations
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Healing of the Seven Generations will be hosting a walk to remember and honour all of our Children in 300 Frederick Street, Kitchener which will begin at 10:00 a.m. More information can be found on their event page.
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September 30 - Cambridge Orange Shirt Day
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Cambridge is hosting an event in recognition of Orange Shirt Day, also known as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Riverside Park (Dolph Pavilion) between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. More information can be found on the Event Page. This event is open to all.
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September and October - Crow Shield Lodge
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Crow Shield Lodge will be hosting several events in September and October. Find more information on their page.
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