Weaving Meaningful Indigenous Inclusion

tatawâw ᑕᑕᐊᐧᐤ

Welcome! There is room here for who you are, where you are from, and who you are becoming

Ariel on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Ariel shared that he was so happy when he got his commemorative t-shirt, he is really proud of his roots and loves to support his people all the time. Something that is important to us at Skills Society is continually exploring ways of more intentionally weaving meaningful Indigenous inclusion throughout our organization. This is important work in our individual and collective journey towards reconciliation.

One piece of this work has been working with Jacquelyn and Hunter Cardinal at Naheyawin to further our learning journey around reconciliation and the creation of symbols, processes, and narratives that Skills Society can ethically utilize to foster healthy, everyday treaty relationships. Naheyawin engaged several people within our Skills Society community to collaborate in the creation of a unique ceremony and Treaty Renewal Reflection Space in the Action Lab. Several artifacts and symbols have also been added to the Skills Society Office and Action Lab spaces, including a Treaty Six Medallion (see little descriptions below). It is our hope that these symbols and our ongoing celebration of them can help us remember the benefits and responsibilities we have as treaty relatives sharing lands with Indigenous peoples, and how those relationships can deepen the work we do. We look forward to continuing to learn and take meaningful action in the months and years ahead in our individual and collective journeys towards being good treaty relatives.

Learning

Stewards of Action Lab participated in live virtual webinars hosted by Naheyawin to learn more about the history of Indigenous Treaties, keys to healthy treaty relationships, and avenues for continued learning.

Treaty Six Medallion

A recreation of the Treaty Six Medallion has been hung in the Action Lab accompanied by a short description and the meanings of the different parts of this image.

Treaty Renewal Reflection Space

A small, interactive sacred space in the Action Lab complete with materials to engage with the sacred process of renewing our treaty relationship. The station includes a small shelf with materials for smudging for those who know how to conduct these ceremonies, as well as an invitation to write down on small slips of paper people’s reflections on their journey of renewing their treaty relationship.

Ceremonial Opening

A ceremonial opening was held with Elder Lewis Cardinal and was dedicated to calling-in the spirit of treaty as Skills Society takes these next steps into the future.

Renewal Ceremonies

Quarterly the artifacts will be smudged by a steward or Elder or Knowledge-Keeper in order to reinforce the positive energies of the space. Annually, space will be held to renew the purpose and journey being undertaken by Skills Society. Elder Lewis Cardinal and Hunter Cardinal next to the Treaty 6 medallion in the Action Lab after stewarding the ceremonial opening

Treaty Renewal Reflection Space in the Action Lab