EVERY ONE. EVERY DAY. KJIPUKTUK HALIFAX EVALUATION REPORT MARCH 2021
PJILA’SI ~ BIENVENUE ~ WELCOME The pilot phase of Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax (EOED) took place in the North End community of Kjipuktuk (Halifax) which is situated on Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. Oral histories, supported by written evidence and artifacts, tell us that the Mi’kmaq have occupied this territory for over 13,000 years. Mi’kma’ki is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, which the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqey, and Peskotomuhkatiyik Peoples first signed with the British in 1726. These treaties did not implicate or affirm the surrender or transfer of lands and resources to the British but recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey title and set the rules for what was to be a long-standing relationship between nations, initially preventing war and facilitating trade. For the Mi’kmaq, these treaties are revered as legal covenants. These sacred pacts are the foundation of Mi’kmaq Euro-Canadian government relations and we all, as treaty people, must recognize and appreciate their legitimacy if we are to truly acknowledge the presence of the Mi’kmaq, both in the past and the present. This land acknowledgement is a commitment to build upon as we recognize that such statements are inconsequential without meaningful action toward reconciliation. Through a process of reflection and unlearning, we continue to educate ourselves on the legacies of colonialism, now and moving forward, with an unbiased and concrete understanding of our shared history and of the culture and traditions of the First Peoples of the land we are operating on.
THE SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION IS IN RELATIONSHIPS. WE MUST NURTURE THE SPIRIT. Msit no’kmaq is a Mi’kmaw term meaning, All my relations. It signifies a respect for the interconnectedness that exists among ourselves, with our surrounding environment, and with the sacredness of Mother Earth and all of Creator’s gifts. We invite all of our partners and project stakeholders to consider Msit no’kmaq as we move forward together in creating healthy and sustainable communities that support an ecosystem of participation and mutual respect and understanding.
Sharing our culture is important to give others a better understanding of how we can move ahead as allies. - Indigenous Elder, Session Host
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We’d like to thank the people who worked hard to bring Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax (EOED) to where it is today, including: EOED Strategic Group and Evaluation Working Group Members: Pamela Glode Desrochers (Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre), Jennifer Angel, Anna Meranik and Mathew Neville (Develop Nova Scotia), Sue LaPierre, Pamela Yates, and Sara Napier (United Way Halifax), Sara Colburn (Engage Nova Scotia), Annika Voltan (Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia), Louise Adongo and Cari Patterson (Inspiring Communities), Tom McGuire (ATN Group Consulting), Shaune MacKinlay, Cheryl Copage-Gehue and Mary Chisolm (Halifax Regional Municipality) and Miriam Zitner (Halifax Partnership). The leaders and contributors from the Participatory Canada team: from the Participatory City Foundation - Tessy Britton (Founding Chief Executive), Aggie Paulauskaite, Saira Awan, and Laura Rogocki (PC City Tutors); and from the McConnell Foundation - Keren Tang (PC Development Manager), and Jayne Engle (Director, Cities for People); and from COLAB based in Halifax - Sophia Horwitz and Greg Woolner.
EOED PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS: • • • •
Aimee Gasparetto, Program Director Frances Palliser-Nicholas, Project Designer Tammy Mudge, Evaluation Lead Cynthia Maclean, Neighbouhood Hub Coordinator
With Support from MNFC Elder, Debbie Eisan. Our warmest thanks and appreciation to everyone who has contributed time, inspiration, ideas, and resources, and engaged in the vision of inclusive participation and reconciliation in Kjipuktuk-Halifax.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction to Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pilot Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wije’winen-Come With Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Working Together for Transformative Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Strategic Group Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 4 5 6 7
KEY MILESTONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Pre development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Launch & delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT EVALUATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION: HIGHLIGHTS, KEY FINDINGS, AND CONSIDERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Feasibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inclusivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Value Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viability & Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advancement of Reconciliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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CLOSING STATEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
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BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION TO EVERY ONE EVERY DAY KJIPUKTUK-HALIFAX Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax (EOED) is a pilot initiative, inspired by Participatory City in East London, UK that is demonstrating how participation in practical everyday activities can transform people’s lives and the neighbourhoods in which they live. Kjipuktuk-Halifax is one of three Canadian cities working in partnership with the Participatory City Foundation and Participatory Canada to explore the transformative social infrastructures we need to create, build upon, and sustain thriving communities, now and in the post-Covid era. Local partners include the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, Develop Nova Scotia, Inspiring Communities, Engage Nova Scotia, United Way Halifax, Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia, Group ATN, Halifax Regional Municipality and the Halifax Partnership. EOED aims to inspire new connections and friendships, born through everyday participation in useful and enjoyable activities, many of which could make life easier, all of which help to foster a shared sense of togetherness. In Kjipuktuk-Halifax, this vision embodies a platform for reconciliation in neighbourhoodswhere people can learn about Indigenous culture and history but also have opportunities to share across cultures, building a new understanding of one another and the places we call home.
Beginning in September 2020, a mini-support platform was developed that could enable diverse neighbours to come together to design and start projects that benefit them and the community. The EOED support platform included functional spaces connected across a neighbourhood, a project team working side-by-side with local residents through a process of co-design, ideas and resources to stimulate a network of practical participation projects, and a community newspaper to generate broad interest. The result was a 6 week program featuring 8 neighbourhood projects and 30 resident-led sessions across 8 different venues, with a key focus on centering Indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural sharing and learning. The EOED sessions were made possible by local residents, including Elders and Indigenous knowledge keepers and crafters, coming together to share their ideas, time and talents. Together they sparked our collective imaginations around what we could be doing more of together each and every day and revealed insight into how inclusive participation and reconciliation could manifest, hand in hand, in neighbourhoods.
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PILOT GEOGRAPHY: HALIFAX NORTH END The Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax (EOED) pilot rolled out in the North End of Kjipuktuk-Halifax, which is situated on the northern part of the Halifax Peninsula immediately north of Downtown Halifax. While the pilot was open to everyone, communications efforts focused specifically in an area of the North End bordered by four main streets that cut across the city from North to South (Barrington St and Gottingen St) and East to West (North St and Cunard St).
According to a Community Profile and Asset Map for Uniacke Square and North End Halifax, a significant portion of housing in this area is made up of rental units (57%), followed by public housing (35%) and lastly, home ownership (8%).
57 % 35% 8% RENTAL UNITS
Even though we are so close together, there’s a lot we don’t know about each other. - MNFC Board Chair This area of the city is culturally diverse and holds historic and modern day significance for Kjipuktuk-Halifax’s Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities. Specifically, it is where the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) opened its doors in 1973 - and is now one of 125 Friendship Centres across Canada. MNFC is recognized in Kjipuktuk-Halifax and Nova Scotia as a welcoming and safe space that offers culturally relevant programs and services for Indigenous community members - many of whom are deeply connected to the Centre and the community it supports. Across the street from the MNFC are two sister organizations - the Mi’kmaq Child Development Centre and Direction 180 - a community based methadone clinic that services the broader community.
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PUBLIC HOUSING
HOME OWNERSHIP
A few blocks North of the MNFC is a public housing development called Uniacke Square which is recognized as a predominantly Black community. Many of those who live in and around this area are former residents or descendants of Africville - a historically Black community that sat on the shore of the Kjipuktuk-Halifax Harbour from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s but was demolished in the 1960s in the name of urban renewal. In recent years, there has been an influx of new residents moving to Uniacke Square, particularly newcomers to Canada, contributing to increasing cultural diversity in the area. In recent years the North End of Kjipuktuk-Halifax is a community that has been threatened by gentrification resulting in the displacement of local residents and shifting demographics. Amidst these ongoing shifts, community life in the North End remains vibrant with many organizations serving as well-known hubs for local residents - each with their own connections to different community groups in the area. In the early stages of planning for EOED, a key focus was to develop a support platform that could not only leverage existing community assets, but also strengthen ties between them and build new connections across different parts of the neighbourhood.
WIJE’WINEN - COME WITH US
The MNFC is working on the development of a new facility, adjacent to the historic landmark of Citadel Hill and just steps away from their current home on Gottingen St. Designed as Kjipuktuk-Halifax’s first ever Indigenous inspired and informed building, the new facility will honour the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to the region’s culture and history and serve as a highly visible emblem of reconciliation that welcomes everyone.
While offering culturally relevant programs and services to a growing urban Indigenous population, the new centre will be a central hub in the heart of the city that can facilitate new connections with the broader community to foster meaningful participation and cross-cultural exchange among Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike. It is imagined that this new facility will be part of a permanent support platform that can nurture and grow an inclusive participatory ecosystem in neighbourhoods and communities across Kjipuktuk-Halifax. To coincide with plans to relocate to a new home, and to better reflect the journey MNFC wishes to take with the whole community, the MNFC introduced a campaign: Wije’winen, meaning Come With Us. Advanced by Elders, this term is a welcoming invitation that expresses a sense of moving forward together.
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A PLATFORM FOR INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION AND RECONCILIATION The EOED pilot has been a journey with the MNFC, to explore how inclusive participation and reconciliation can manifest in neighbourhoods. Throughout its development, we have applied and learned from valuable approaches and practices that have been researched and effectively implemented through the work of Participatory City in East London, UK. The local team in Kjipuktuk-Halifax worked alongside Participatory City Tutors, who shared their experiences and insights related to the co-design process and working to build participatory culture.
We have also gained valuable insight into the implications for this work if reconciliation is to be centered. In some cases these learnings have been applied in real time - such as through the development of communications tools, integrating Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, and practices to enhance cultural exchange among residents. In other cases, they have been integrated as key questions and recommendations that could inform future iterations of this work in Kjipuktuk-Halifax and beyond.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE Since its inception, the EOED pilot has been supported by a Strategic Group (SG) that is made up of cross-sector partners who came together to guide early phases of the work and provide support via existing infrastructure and systems. Together, this collaboration is deeply invested in the potential to create transformative social infrastructure that can help to nurture new forms of participatory culture across Kjipuktuk-Halifax and Nova Scotia. The MNFC has acted as lead delivery partner for the pilot and the relationship between the SG and the MNFC is one of mutual learning and partnership.
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If reconciliation could be done quickly, or by any one group alone, it would already be done. - Executive Director, Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre Early in the development of the EOED pilot, the SG set out to develop a set of guiding principles that could support new ways of working and measuring progress, as a means to explore reconciliation in practice, through the lens of governance. This work was woven throughout our meetings with focused time for learning and reflection around Indigenous knowledge alongside one of the Elders at MNFC. One outcome of this work was a set of guiding principles, informed by the Seven Grandfather/ Grandmother teachings to help draw insights around how we work together as a critical indicator of success.
STRATEGIC GROUP PRINCIPLES The following principles were created using the Mi’kmaw teaching of Etuaptmumk, “Two-eyed Seeing”, introduced by Elder Albert Marshall of Eskasoni First Nation, in the district of Una’ma’ki. This teaching asks us to take the strengths of both a colonized world and an Indigenous world, and, through both lenses, build greater capacity and success for all. These principles integrate Euro-Canadian practice with the Seven Sacred Teachings of the Mi’kmaq through a process of co-learning and an exchange of stories.
LOVE & OPENNESS
COURAGE & BRAVERY
Through the teaching of love, we approach our tasks with an open heart and steep our work in love so that we always remain welcoming and inclusive.
Through the teaching of courage, we unleash the tenacity we carry inside to overcome fears that prevent us from advancing in our worwwk by acknowledging our discomfort and facing it with bravery and integrity, together.
RESPECT & HARMONY
HUMILITY & RECIPROCITY
Through the teaching of respect, we acknowledge the existence of multiple truths and give equal consideration to all perspectives. We accept differences and do not judge or dismiss but work together to establish a mutual understanding that will sustain a harmonious environment for all to thrive.
Through the teaching of humility, we recognize that we are a part of something greater than our individual needs. We honour our interconnectedness – Msit no’kmaq, “all my relations,” by exploring beyond words, to the essence of ourselves and our existence on this earth. We appreciate our inter-dependence by supporting working relationships that are both reciprocal and steadfast.
WISDOM & REFLECTION
TRUTH & TRANSPARENCY
Through the teaching of wisdom, we utilize our individual gifts in ways that promote wellness and equity. We realize that our work is dynamic and always changing and we intentionally create space to reflect on the past and present to prepare for the path ahead.
Through the teaching of truth, we adhere to these principles and are purposeful in our work and intentional in our actions. We are aware of our personal truths and recognize the multiple lenses that influence how we see and act in the world so that we remain accountable and transparent in everything we do.
HONESTY, LEARNING & UNLEARNING Through the teaching of honesty, we remain true to ourselves, our community, and each other by always speaking from the heart. We create a safe space to learn, grow, and develop alongside each other and lead with curiosity, questioning what is, and why things are the way they are to surface our shared history.
The principles are beautiful. They depict that there needs to be vulnerability present to be in practice. - Strategic Group member 7
KEY MILESTONES EOED PILOT
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Funding Secured for KjipuktukHalifax Pilot
EOED Program Director Hired
Recommendations for EOED Pilot Delivery Model
EOED Project Designer Hired
SG Guiding Principles Developed
SG Project Charter Developed
Neighbourhood Hub Coordinator Hired
EOED Lead Evaluator Hired
Co-Design of EOED March Program
EOED Evaluation Framework Developed
EOED Website & Social Media Launch
EOED Program Delivered (6 weeks)
EOED Program Opening
EOED Newspaper Launched & Distributed
EOED Program Closing
EOED Final Report
PRE-DEVELOPMENT PHASE: JULY 2019-AUGUST 2020 JULY 2019
Participatory City Camp on Wasan Island attended by representatives from Halifax, Montreal and Toronto
PA RTICIPATO RY CITY C A M P O N WA SA N ISLA N D
Halifax progresses as one of three cities to test feasibility through development of a demonstration project
OCT 2019
Halifax hosts lunchtime talk, featuring Founding Chief Executive of the Participatory City Foundation Halifax hosts a full day development workshop with local leaders Halifax Strategic Group engages in learning and planning for Halifax pilot (9 organizations, 14 individuals) Funding Secured for Kjipuktuk-Halifax Social R&D Pilot
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DEVELOPMENT PHASE: SEPTEMBER 2020-JANUARY 2021 SEPT 2020
Program Director hired Interviews with SG members: mapping work & perspectives to date
M N FC ELDE R SH A RES A TE ACH IN G A RO UN D O R A N G E SH IR T DAY WITH TH E STR ATEG IC G RO UP
Orientation, learning, & planning for Social R&D pilot (Program Director + PC Foundation + PC Canada).
Presentation to SG: interview findings & recommendations for moving forward
OCT 2020
Solidify delivery model for Kjipuktuk-Halifax Social R&D pilot
Learning & Planning: • outreach & partnerships (NE orgs & businesses) • pilot co-design (MNFC staff + NE residents) • program architecture (PC Foundation & MNFC staff) • branding & communications (MNFC staff & PC Foundation)
Presentation & Discussion with MNFC staff (22 staff members)
Branding: Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax
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DESI G N IN G TH E M A RCH PRO G RAM
NOV 2020
EOED Project Designer hired SG Learning and Reflection: MNFC Elder shares 7 Grandmother/Grandfather teachings to inform guiding principles EOED project plan finalized for Social R&D phase Co-design (MNFC Staff + NE residents & businesses) Oct-Dec: conversations with 50+ potential hosts and 20+ local orgs & businesses Initiate development of EOED newspaper (MNFC staff & PC City Tutors)
DEC 2020
Presentation to United Way Halifax (UWH) staff on EOED and link to UWH neighbourhood hub network Co-design for March Program with NE residents and MNFC staff and community members Project Planning for Social R&D pilot (Codesign, March program sessions, program architecture, newspaper, space planning). Design and Development of EOED website and facebook page Development of SG Project Charter
JAN 2021
Lead Evaluator hired Neighbourhood Hub Coordinator hired Session co-design with MNFC staff and residents Meeting with staff from Halifax Regional Municipality: Production of briefing report for CAO Finalization of EOED March Program (8 projects with 33 sessions) Development of communications plan for March Program Development of SG Guiding Principles
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LAUNCH & DELIVERY PHASE: FEBRUARY 1ST-APRIL 14TH 2021 FEB 2021
FEB 1: Launch of EOED website and facebook page FEB 2: Launch EOED newspaper: 2500 copies distributed door to door + 800 via local orgs EOED Evaluation Framework completed Space set up for March Program Production of EOED communications materials Development of Covid Plan for March Program
MAR 2021
EOED Program Opening 130+ attended on zoom + 405 engagements FB EOED March Program • 30 sessions delivered • 26 session hosts •2 35 registered participants with 65 on wait lists • 167 session participants •2 8 At Home With Us Kits distributed
Media Interviews: 4 media interviews including print, radio and TV Speaking engagements and presentations: 7 story sharing sessions on local and national platforms
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REPORTING PHASE: APRIL 1ST-APRIL 30TH 2021 APR 2021
Delivery of final sessions for March Program EOED Program Closing Final Halifax Report for Social R&D Phase
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EVALUATION APPROACH The evaluation approach to EOED Kjipuktuk-Halifax is based on a framework developed in January 2021. It focuses on the four guiding research and development components introduced by Participatory Canada for the purpose of adaptation and learning on a national level. They are Feasibility, Inclusivity, Value Creation, and Viability. We added a fifth component, Advancement of
Reconciliation, to solidify and maintain our commitment to reconciliation throughout every phase of the project, and to educate all involved in the history, culture, and traditions of Indigenous Peoples. In the spirit of reconciliation, the Participatory City research and development components have been translated into the Mi’kmaw language.
FEASIBILITY KETANTOQ ~ STRIVE TO OBTAIN INCLUSIVITY TOQOLUKWEJIK ~ WORK TOGETHER VALUE CREATION KSITE’TAQAN ~ SOMETHING CHERISHED VIABILITY NIMJI’MUATL ~ SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE ADVANCEMENT OF RECONCILIATION NESTU’ET AQQ TETAPU’LATL ~ BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE AND DO RIGHT BY
To support the evaluation process and the Lead Evaluator in her learning journey, we formed an Evaluation Working Group (EWG), which included experts and professionals with extensive evaluation experience. The primary function of the EWG was to support the Evaluation Lead by offering input and suggestions throughout the
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process. We held three online meetings during the pilot phase. Regular check-ins with the Inspiring Communities Director of Research and Evaluation provided additional support, offered further insight and expertise, and provided an opportunity to address any evaluation concerns with the pilot.
We generated the findings in this report drawing on information from the following sources: • • • • • • • • •
Participants Hosts Project Team members Evaluation Lead’s personal reflection notes EOED Strategic Group EOED registration spreadsheet EOED program planning spreadsheets Session notes Observations
We collected evaluation data through: • • • • • •
• • • •
Observations (30 sessions) Document review Database review On-site surveys (52 participants) Online surveys (10 participants, 1 host) Telephone/Zoom interviews (3 participants, 3 hosts, 3 Project Team members, 4 Strategic Group members) Reflections exercises (13 participants) Weekly Project Team check-ins and reflections (4 members) Reflection session with SG (9 members) Closing session reflections (7 hosts)
EVALUATION FINDINGS There are five sections of evaluation findings, based on the five guiding research and development components. We present the findings using both thematic groupings and story sharing, which combines a Euro-Canadian and an Indigenous approach to understanding and sharing knowledge, staying true to each voice as possible. Each section includes Highlights, Key Insights, and Future Considerations. In Highlights we present the experiences of the Strategic Group members, Project Team members, Participants, and Hosts. From there, we formulated Key Insights to identify learnings from these experiences. Fi-
nally, Future Considerations focuses on informing future EOED Kjipuktuk-Halifax phases, and on ensuring that we tend to this process in a good way, honouring tradition and spirit.
I prefer to hear the stories from the project, they have more impact than numbers. - Strategic Group member 15
KETANTOQ ~ STRIVE TO OBTAIN (FEASIBILITY)
EOED Kjipuktuk-Halifax is striving to obtain a level of inclusive community participation that will build community capacity and encourage North End residents to establish and strengthen their connections with neighbours, and with local businesses and organizations. The EOED pilot phase created a supportive and connected platform of spaces and people that assisted in bringing ideas to life during the March Program.
HIGHLIGHTS
This program is different in that it is grassroots, and it empowers people to think of other ways they can start similar activities on a weekly basis. - Participant
The March Program has provoked the community’s curiosity. - Participant
FINDING OUT ABOUT THE MARCH PROGRAM Discovering how participants learned about the March Program is critical in determining what mode of communications will be most beneficial moving forward. Of the 62 participants surveyed, 29% reported that they learned about the March Program from the EOED newspaper. Second to this was the 26% who reported that they learned about the program by “word of mouth”, mainly from a friend, family member, or co worker. 18% reported that they learned about the program from the EOED Facebook page. The promotions and activities look super exciting and much needed during this time of social isolation to help us all feel connected and part of a community. - Resident
The newspaper was beautiful, and it made the schedule and purpose of the project clear. - Participant REGISTRATION AND ATTENDANCE Residents could register for any of the March Program sessions through our website, however, we did not collect data about the website’s ease of use or how people engaged with it outside of registering for the March Program. A total of 300 people registered for the sessions (65 of whom were on a wait list). Of the 300 participants, we recorded 122 as having attended (41%). Residents could also register for two different “At Home with Us Kits”, which were developed as a means to expand inclusivity and participation for those who may have wanted to take part but were unable to do so in person or online. In total, 28 participants registered for this take-home activity and we distributed 30+ additional kits through partnering community organizations. The 30 sessions that were delivered included four “Tea & Bannock” sessions that invited community members to drop-in for a cafe style conversation with Elders from the community. Three of these were held in-person at a local cafe and one was
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I loved the window design and I appreciated the use of placemaking as a community building activity. - Participant recorded live from the MNFC and streamed via the EOED Facebook page. During the Facebook live Tea & Bannock session, eight participants were viewing and actively commenting and asking questions. While the Tea and Bannock sessions did not require registration, a participant tracking sheet showed that 37 participants attended the three in-person sessions. Community members hosted the sessions for the March Program with the support of the EOED Project Team. In total, 26 hosts took part in the co-design and facilitation of one or more of the 33 sessions. To promote the program, we produced and distributed 3300 copies of the EOED Newspaper to households and organizations in the North End.
KEY INSIGHTS
The bannock was good, the company was even better. Everybody wanted to talk, and everybody wanted to ask questions. Whoever came up with this... I think it’s one of the best things that ever happened at the Friendship Centre. - Host
BUILDING PARTICIPATION The EOED pilot highlighted the importance of having meaningful and trusting relationships already established within the community in order to gain initial interest and traction. Two of the project team members had existing connections to the community and the MNFC has been a community hub for decades. As a result, the Project Designer was able to quickly draw on a list of community members who would potentially host a session to get things started. These established relationships also had a positive influence on community participation throughout the pilot. Hosts, as residents, felt comfortable participating in the pilot because they trusted that adequate support would be provided by the project team and MNFC. Over the course of the pilot, these relationships grew and provided a strong foundation to build upon moving forward. After taking part in the EOED pilot, nearly all hosts stated that they would be willing to host another session, either the same session or something new. Of the participants surveyed, 5% stated that they would be willing to host a session, and 31% offered ideas for future sessions.
• The EOED newspaper was the most effective medium for communicating the story and work of EOED and inviting participation of the broader community. Its production posed a steep learning curve for project staff and required a significant investment of time and resources - from the local team and Participatory City Tutors. This and other communications requirements surfaced the need for dedicated human resources in this area, even in early stages of the work. • The development process for the newspaper provided sharp insight into how this work will be different if reconciliation is to be centered. We challenged ourselves to create a design that could be a welcoming invitation for the Indigenous community, but also everyone. The process involved on-going dialogue with MNFC staff and the designer to get it right - and the importance of ensuring adequate time for planning visual design elements. • The importance of project staff who know and understand the community is paramount. These existing relationships contributed greatly to our success in engaging session hosts, securing a network of local venues, and promoting the EOED March Program throughout the community. • Pre-registration posed a barrier to participation and inclusivity but it is uncertain to what degree. It’s likely that this posed limitations related to technological accessibility (comfort with technology and access to the internet), as well as the extra planning required when drop-in sessions are not an option. • The EOED pilot revealed the high degree of oneon-one support and connection required to build and grow participation culture. While the majority of hosts expressed excitement to host again, shifting participants into the role of host will require significantly more time and support.
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, registration was required for the entire March Program and the first week was delivered entirely online after the announcement of a Covid-19 circuit breaker just days before the launch. This posed challenges related to attendance, and many sessions became full with wait lists, only to then have 50% of those registered show up to the session. This was a missed opportunity to participate for those on the waitlist and posed limitations on who could participate overall. The program did really well at pivoting and shifts. - Strategic Group member
• Integrate newspapers as a primary communications tool to support ongoing and increased participation over time. In doing so, define realistic production cycles that mirror program delivery and can grow over time based on available resources. • Establish graphic design and communications expertise as a core resource within the project team to oversee the development/production of newspapers and other communications tools and materials. • Deepen research around how required pre-registration affects inclusive participation. Further experiment with drop-in style projects when they can be tested safely and closely consider how best to manage attendance during these sessions.
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TOQOLUKWEJIK ~ WORK TOGETHER (INCLUSIVITY)
Creating an ecosystem of participatory projects with all residents of the neighbourhood requires the community to work together. These working relationships must foster cultural diversity and acknowledge the many lived experiences that make up the community’s past and present, reinforcing collective agency and supporting inclusivity.
HIGHLIGHTS
We need to keep an open-mind for the program, constantly asking ourselves “Who aren’t we reaching?” and always looking for new opportunities to reach out to people in the community. - Project Team member
BUILDING INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION While we did not collect specific demographic data from participants, many observations made by project team members provided anecdotal evidence that the EOED sessions attracted people of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds, including: • Children taking part in a wide range of sessions from neighbourhood walks, to making traditional dream catchers, to tea and bannock, and introduction to capoeira. • Many different hosts offering a wide range of skills and talents helped to attract diverse participation. While some participants attended several sessions, participant lists indicated that unique community members were drawn to each session. • Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members hosting and participating. Many of the hosts for the March Program were Indigenous and it was clear that sessions attracted both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous participants. • People from different cultural backgrounds expressing desire to learn and share. This was observed by different people asking questions and expressing willingness to share openly. During the Dream Catcher session, a father and son shared their Jewish customs with the group while making and learning about dream catchers. They also spoke about their interest in learning the Mi’kmaw language. (Observation)
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During the session on smudging and powwow knowledge, two participants introduced themselves as Indigenous, seeking to learn more about their culture, while two others introduced themselves as non-Indigenous, interested to learn about the practice of smudging. (Observation) During interviews, some people suggested that participants did not fully represent the North End community. For example, one person indicated that they would like to have seen more seniors participating in the program (acknowledging that they may have been limited by Covid restrictions), and another would have liked more youth involvement, specifically as hosts.
A WELCOMING INVITATION FOR ALL Significant effort was placed on designing invitations and spaces that expressed a warm and welcoming invitation for all. For example, the EOED newspaper and website contained images, colors and symbols that reflected Indigenous culture, but also design elements aimed at everyone. We also arranged the MNFC to be a family friendly environment area for children to play, and decorated the room with bright and colourful banners, signage, and cafe style seating. Many different staff and community members made comments to project staff around the warmth and inviting feel of these elements. The pilot rolled out across a network of eight venues - all of which were identified as familiar and inviting spaces for different groups of community members. While this appeared to help foster new connections across the community, it also posed challenges related to varying degrees of control over venue design and layout, accessibility, and scheduling.
This was so awesome, I really enjoyed it. You have all done such an amazing job with these sessions, and the communications materials - it’s all so beautiful. I want to know what’s happening next…. We’ll definitely be there! - Participant CULTIVATING SAFE SPACE The EOED sessions provided a safe and comfortable space for participants to co-learn and share their personal experiences. For example, during one session, the Elder who was hosting invited participants to ask questions they thought may be sensitive and that they may not have another opportunity to do so outside of the session. This established a level of comfort in the room and promoted meaningful discussion. During another session hosted by two residents who grew up in the North End, an open discussion revealed how the neighbourhood has changed over the years. This was expressed through stories, which conveyed both concern and hope for the community. Participants from a younger generation were particularly engaged during this session, which they reflected through their attentiveness, responses, and questions. The opinions and stories the hosts openly shared with the group were personal at times, indicating a high degree of comfort in the space.
ASSESSING ACCESSIBILITY We did not gather data about the impact of accessible venues and spaces on participation. In terms of physical accessibility, the MNFC has a chair lift at the back entrance, which could potentially accommodate wheelchair access with support although this was not used during the March Program. Other venues were wheelchair accessible and did not appear to pose limitations with respect to physical accessibility.
KEY INSIGHTS • The EOED pilot demonstrated successful approaches in building inclusive participation and generated particular excitement and energy around sharing and learning across cultures. • More research is required to understand local barriers and opportunities related to deepening participation and inclusivity among diverse groups, particularly in relation to accessibility issues. • While there are many potential factors contributing to the creation of welcoming and safe space, on-going attention is required to continuously nurture both the subtle and apparent forces that help to build a sense of comfort and ease among hosts and participants. • The pilot demonstrated how many different activities located in different parts of the neighbourhood can help to build inclusive participation. However, this network of spaces could be greatly enhanced through the establishment of fully accessible and highly visible “anchor locations” to strengthen visibility and inclusivity for all.
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS • Expand research around the impact of different accessibility issues on participation in all phases of planning, co-design, delivery, and evaluation. • Prioritize the establishment of a local storefront (at minimum) as an essential component of the EOED support platform which can anchor a growing network of spaces and projects and support on-going research around inclusive participation. • Explore formal partnerships with local organizations that could help to build a stable network of host venues and leverage existing resources across the neighbourhood (e.g., HRM facilities, Halifax Public Libraries).
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KSITE’TAQAN ~ SOMETHING CHERISHED (VALUE CREATION)
The success of the EOED project is heavily reliant on its ability to generate value for its participants. Co-designing the March Program together with residents created an opportunity to explore what residents feel is beneficial to their community. This process supported the aim of creating a program that could be cherished by all residents currently living in the community and for the generations to come.
HIGHLIGHTS
The idea that we can change the way that our city looks based on what we build and do together...that’s what stands out for me. We were building benches together... and seeing the confidence build in someone that they can actually build something like that for their community. It was the shared struggle of getting a nail in straight, but we did it together. - Host
RELATIONSHIPS & CONNECTIONS The most reported benefit that residents received from attending the March program was the opportunity to socialize and reconnect with others in the community. Of the 62 participants surveyed, 73% reported that they made a new friend or a new connection in the community from participating in the March Program. While the opportunity to socialize and reconnect with neighbours was the most frequently reported benefit, the need for social connections and activities may have been heightened due to the longevity and restrictive nature of Covid-19. Especially during pandemic time, it has been so fulfilling to make tangible connections with strangers, who are friends now. - Participant
BUILDING SKILLS & CONFIDENCE A direct benefit of participating in the March Program was learning a new skill and/or acquiring new knowledge and 84% of survey participants said that they did just that. In addition, for hosts, having an opportunity to share their skills and knowledge, which highlighted their talents and abilities, gave them a boost in confidence. One participant looked across the room and asked another participant, “Aren’t you my neighbour?” This sparked a conversation which gave neighbours a chance to connect on a deeper level. (Observation)
Actually meeting strangers at the workshop and then through the workshop making connections that I wouldn’t have had otherwise...I feel different than I did before, being in this community, like I have more threads to this (friendship) center and community. - Participant One participant shared that she was a doctor and then an Elder in the group spoke to some work they were doing with the hospital around bringing smudging into the building. The Elder then extended an invitation to discuss Indigenous practices in healing. (Observation)
SHARING ACROSS CULTURES Another major benefit was that it gave an opportunity for residents to share their culture and traditions with others in a safe, respectful, co-learning environment. Cultural sessions were well-received and were the most popular among participants. A number of participants requested that the program offer more sessions with Indigenous content in the future. The March Program provided a great opportunity for sharing cultures and has great potential to further this learning and sharing. - Elder Host
During a cultural session, one host appeared to be proud of the land base knowledge he carried and honoured to share his experiences with others in the group. (Observation)
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One participant, who attended the session with her five-yearold daughter, used the moment to demonstrate the importance of contributing to the community and as an opportunity to teach her valuable life lessons such as embracing diversity and managing stereotypes and prejudice. (Observation)
POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON MENTAL HEALTH Participants reported that participating in the sessions had a positive influence on their mental health. In some cases this was due to session content (e.g., Introduction to Yoga: Where do I start? ) but it was primarily the result of offering a co-learning experience where residents were free to share and learn in a safe environment and creating opportunities for residents to socialize, be active, and reconnect with their community. Personally, I was having a stressful day and really appreciated the opportunity to get out and go for a walk and meet new people in the community. It was a great way to get physical activity into the day and connect with neighbours. - Participant
ENGAGEMENT & GRATITUDE
Most participants attending the sessions appeared to be fully engaged. This was reflected in ongoing conversations during the session, the number of participants asking questions, the depth of co-learning and story exchanges, body language, and bursts of laughter. Participants also showed gratitude and thanks towards each other and the project team during each session.
To counter the issue of participants having to leave the session before their craft was complete, hosts and project team members offered to send out a Youtube video to further support participant learning. Participants appreciated this idea, and the Project Team sent an email with Youtube links after the sessions.
HOST FEEDBACK Hosts appreciated an opportunity to share their knowledge and talent with the community and to be a part of the co-design process, developing content and customizing the session delivery to their level of comfort. The hosts we interviewed also shared that they appreciated just having to show up and not having to be involved in logistics of organizing their sessions. I haven’t heard of any other programs in the community that offer this level of community involvement. - Participant
KEY INSIGHTS • The new relationships and connections made throughout the EOED pilot are the glue that holds this work together and close attention should be paid to maintaining and building these connections, particularly in the absence of delivery cycles.
During one of the Tea & Bannock sessions, an Elder who was hosting showed some young children in the group a gift they had received from a community member, a small ship, and they explained what the Mi’kmaw name of the boat would be translated in English. The children were very interested. This sparked a conversation about learning the Mi’kmaw language and the potential for offering Mi’kmaw language classes online in the future. (Observation)
PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK When participants were asked how they would rate the sessions (from poor to excellent) 84% rated their sessions as excellent. 15% of survey participants said that the content was what they liked best about the sessions. One issue that has impacted the overall experience of participants was the length of time allotted for each session. For many of the sessions, there was not enough time to complete tasks, finish crafts and artwork, or, in some cases, for hosts to share all the content they had intended. In many circumstances, sessions exceeded the allotted time, and while many participants did not mind staying longer, others had commitments that would not allow them to stay, and they expressed disappointment. On two occasions, it was noted that hosts felt they were rushed moving through the content and sharing their knowledge, suggesting that maybe their session would be best offered in two parts. There wasn’t enough time during the session to give an appropriate explanation and have a discussion of cultural content. - Host
• The diversity of benefits recorded, and the uniqueness felt through the creation of space for cross-cultural sharing, reinforced how this approach centers resident experience by working to create ways for many different people to participate on their own termswhile strengthening the connective tissue between people and opportunities. • While hosts felt well supported and appreciated their limited involvement in logistics, the true nature of a participatory approach encourages residents and hosts to take part in the many facets of project design, delivery, and evaluation (including logistics). This calls for on-going modelling and support from the project team, who require adequate time and training to avoid falling into familiar patterns of program design and delivery.
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS • Build on the momentum of the EOED pilot by continuing to identify pathways of engagement that enable on-going connections between residents and organizations, with opportunities for co-designing future phases. • Develop a structured approach for preliminary and on-going training to support the whole project team in applying and modelling participatory approaches and practices. Apply insights generated from this to the development of a localized experiential learning model for diverse individuals and organizations.
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NIMJI’MUATL ~ SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE (VIABILITY)
The EOED pilot aims to strengthen community resilience over time. A resilient community is one that is connected and supportive, leaving no one behind. In times of distress and uncertainty, resilient communities support and encourage their residents, local businesses, and organizations by coming together and offering their skills, knowledge, and resources to best navigate these challenges and fluctuating circumstances.
HIGHLIGHTS
EOED has the potential to strengthen community resiliency, providing there is an awareness of how the community operates and a deep understanding of what residents view as important or beneficial. This deep-seated process takes time and will be a major determining factor to the project’s overall success. Therefore, community endorsement and support of the program by residents as well as local business and organizations is imperative.
LOCAL SUPPORT & INTEREST There has been much evidence indicating both strong community support of the program and interest in participating in the future. Throughout the design phase of the pilot, emphasis was placed on how the EOED support platform could foster new connections across different parts of the neighbourhood. For example, we know that MNFC provides a safe and welcoming space for Indigenous community members to be together and learn, and part of our aim was to draw new people into the centre who may otherwise not feel welcome, or that they have a reason to do so. Similarly, we intentionally established a network of community spaces that could invite and encourage diverse individuals and groups to connect across different parts of the neighbourhood. Over the course of the pilot, there were many instances of local organizations reaching out to project team members, with offers to support and collaborate. After one particular session, a host who is also involved in the youth social enterprise where the session was hosted offered to donate flower boxes for a future session that could later be placed throughout the community. On another occasion a volunteer from a local screen printing shop who attended a session on mask making expressed interest in partnering on creative projects and hosting at their neighbouring organization. At the neighborhood level, local organizations provided space, staff support, and expressed an overall willingness to help in whatever ways they could. Around the time that local health officials announced a Covid-19 circuit breaker, a manager at the North End Library reached out to see if we needed any additional support with transitioning sessions to online. - Project Team member
A local business owner spoke about the diversity of the community and said that being a part of this project gave them an opportunity to connect with residents in the community who they knew were there but were unable to reach. They continued by emphasizing the importance of partnerships in making this happen. (Observation)
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Shortly after the public launch of the EOED pilot, and as momentum grew around the work, the Program Director, sometimes alongside another team member, engaged in 4 media interviews and 8 presentations/gatherings related to different themes. After one conversation with an inter-cultural design class at NASCAD, a student reached out with a visual interpretation of EOED that resonated deeply with project staff. I am an international student from NSCAD. You gave a lecture on the Every One Every Day activity in our professor Leslie’s class last month. This is a great organization and activity. I stayed in the city of NS for two years. At the beginning, the unfamiliar environment, culture and language often made me feel lonely and fearful of communication. Seeing such activities made me feel a lot of the warmth and friendliness of this city. - Community member This program allowed me to connect with residents that I knew were there but was unable to connect with. - Host Even just the opportunity to visit spaces in the neighbourhood. I’ve lived in the North End for more than 10 years and have never been inside the Friendship Centre. - Participant
REFLECTIONS ON SUPPORT AND VIABILITY Cultivating A Strong Team: The development of the EOED pilot surfaced high demands around individual and collective learning related to participatory frameworks and approaches, resident co-design, developmental evaluation, and more - each of which needed to be adapted and applied on the ground, in real time. This requirement around the quick application of learning was felt in different ways across different stakeholder groups, each working to advance the work with varying lenses, and at different points within the system. In the case of the project team, much of this learning was self-directed, or developed through conversations and coaching with the Participatory City Tutors.
The one-on-one discussions and coaching time that was provided by the PC Tutors was extremely helpful - particularly for such a massive undertaking of creating our first newspaper, which involved so much learning as we went. - Project Team member The Project Team zoned in on elements of co-design with residents, communications, modelling participatory practices, and project evaluation. The challenges to learn and act quickly at this level were felt among team members and exacerbated by varying start dates and degrees of training, and varying degrees of comfort with the technical and administrative requirements for managing a high degree of logistics and one-on-one relationships with residents. Among the SG, co-learning was centered around the city-level application of this work and the discovery of how the PC approach and learning model could best integrate into existing structures and systems. The SG was also deeply invested in working together to understand how reconciliation could be practiced through a lens of governance - both of which present opportunities for future learning and application.
SUPPORT & CAPACITY ACROSS LEVELS The SG also provided extra support and capacity for the work, which manifested through different forms and relationships. Some SG members provided funding or resource support such as graphic design, others made key connections to potential partners and infrastructure, and some provided support and capacity building for EOED project staff. Specifically, two of the EOED project staff were part time, and shared across MNFC and two different partner organizations (also SG members). While these staffing structures posed some challenges related to extra layers of logistics and administration, and project staff needing to navigate different organizational demands and cultures, these relationships directed significant support and capacity to the project team, and reflected a deep commitment to co-learning and development around this work. All of these teams worked at different times and in different ways, with Participatory Canada, the PC Foundation, and local teams in Toronto and Montreal in an effort to build collective
understanding around a national approach. This work is, and will continue to be, influenced by the different lenses and organizational contexts represented by all those involved and throughout the pilot, the commitment of multiple influential organizations has enabled a strong network of support that can serve the ongoing development of this work in very beneficial ways.
Having some staff at MNFC and some at United Way and Inspiring Communities, while explainable, had some challenges in terms of team cohesion and structural integrity. - Strategic Group member
KEY INSIGHTS • Local organizations and businesses appeared to support and encourage the unique vision of EOED, many of whom suggested different ideas and opportunities for future collaboration. • Strategic Group members provide a critical role and support structure that can help to mobilize partners and champions, support resource and capacity development, and enhance the integration of the EOED platform into existing systems and structures. • EOED is, at its core, a learning model that requires a strong framework to enable on-going learning and capacity buliding within and across multiple teams and stakeholders. It is critical that a thoughtful and supportive approach to learning be cultivated and resourced.
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS • Develop a comprehensive learning framework that can support diverse stakeholder groups to engage in multiple and overlapping learning domains such as participatory culture, developmental evaluation, systems integration, and the advancement of reconciliation. • Dedicate time and resources towards team building and facilitated dialogues that can help to ground team members in different personalities and cultural contexts that influence working styles and relationships. • Evaluate and further define how the SG and decision makers can further integrate the work of reconciliation and specifically how this informs processes of learning, planning, and resource development.
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NESTU’ET AQ TETAPU’LATL ~ BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE AND DO RIGHT BY (ADVANCEMENT OF RECONCILIATION) The 94 Calls to Action detailed in the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015) place a responsibility on governments, businesses, educational and religious institutions, health care professionals, civil society groups, and all Canadians to recognize the value of Indigenous worldviews and practices. The report defines reconciliation as “…establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples … there has to be awareness of the past, acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour”. It is with this consideration that the EOED pilot sought to become knowledgeable of the ways in which this initiative could highlight Indigenous culture and traditions and do right by Indigenous communities, moving forward together, in a good way, with actions to back our intentions. This project is an opportunity to take control and push the envelope; to try and incorporate as much Indigenous authority and ways of doing things into it as we could.
This commitment to advancing reconciliation is unique and is not part of the participatory approach that is being implemented and evaluated by the Participatory City Foundation in East London, UK. As such, specific adaptations in Kjipuktuk-Halifax were informed by in-depth discussions with MNFC staff and Indigenous community members and should be further developed and led, alongside Halifax’s Indigenous community. We hope that this approach serves as a learning opportunity for partners and stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the significance and urgency in working towards reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous population and engaging in meaningful action.
This project is a learning opportunity and a chance to shift people’s thinking away from the colonial approach, pushing them to think differently. - Strategic Group member
- Strategic Group member
HIGHLIGHTS RECONCILI-ACTION (GOVERNANCE) The EOED pilot incorporated Indigenous knowledge into the governance structure of the project. This was done by inviting an Elder to multiple EOED Strategic Group meetings to share teachings and insight into Indigenous ways of knowing and being in the world. Grounded in this knowledge, the group engaged in open dialogue and seven guiding principles were created. These were later revised based on feedback from group members. Near the end of the EOED pilot, we held a drop-in Zoom session with Strategic Group members to reflect on the impact of the principles on the work. Participants reflected on whether they had seen the principles in action. The limited timeline of the pilot meant that there was not enough time spent working together to meaningfully evaluate the impact of the guiding principles. When considering future governance models, these principles offer a strong foundation to guide working relationships and decision making but require the collective identification of practices to support and evaluate progress.
I wish we had the principles sooner; it would have impacted how the group was structured; we could have referenced them. - Strategic Group member
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These principles are not like any other set of principles, like business, focused on profit, these focus on people. You can see how they are all interconnected and if you do not follow just one, you cannot follow the others. - Strategic Group member
KEY INSIGHTS RECONCILI-ACTION (NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECTS) There were five Indigenous themed sessions offered, plus additional sessions which included Indigenous content and teachings including the Tea and Bannock sessions. This provided participants, and in some cases the local community, with a chance to learn more about Indigenous culture and traditions and gain some hands-on experience with Indigenous crafting. Among the participants we surveyed, the sessions with Indigenous content were the most popular.
The March Program provided an opportunity for non-Indigenous folks to sit down with an Elder from the community. This would not normally happen. - Host The EOED pilot helped to surface specific examples of how reconciliation could manifest and be experienced at the neighbourhood level. While many of these observations were anecdotal, they offer insight into potential outcomes that can be further researched in future phases of work, including: • Using an Indigenous approach to relationship building. In particular, honouring the time needed to build meaningful and trusting relationships with the community and intentionally creating space to nurture these relationships, without rushing, throughout the entirety of the project. • Co-creating visual design elements (e.g., newspapers, space design) that honour and reflect Indigenous culture and serve as welcoming invitations for the whole community. • Building and strengthening connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to help foster a network of safe and inviting spaces that support cultural exchange and inclusive participation. • Working with Elders and knowledge keepers to integrate practices/protocols that can support the respectful sharing and learning of Indigenous wisdom. • Creating safe and inviting spaces for neighbours (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) to participate in practical and enjoyable projects while also emphasizing the sharing of cultural knowledge and perspectives.
I have always wanted to know and learn more about this community and do things with the Indigenous community. That is what this program has meant to me... opening new doors to things I’ve wanted to explore for so long. - Host
• There is no manual or “how-to guide’’ for reconciliation and the deeply relational nature of this work means that we need timeframes and structures that allow for trusting relationships to evolve, with the Indigenous community, the local community and other stakeholders and partners. • Team members experienced a “push and pull” between working within existing frames and structures to plan, strategize, and act swiftly versus deepening personal and collective learning around new systems and processes (ie. in service of reconciliation). Adequate time is required for discussing and building a process that helps to advance reconciliation across multiple levels (e.g., governance, co-design, projects). • MNFC staff and community members offered guidance and support to embed Indigenous knowledge into the foundation of the pilot and create the conditions for safe and respectful sharing of Indigenous culture. This appeared to be well received and appreciated, and a driving force behind what made EOED particularly unique, with deeper meaning for residents. • The pilot offered a starting place to explore how Indigenous knowledge can help to shape governance and accountability structures. By introducing Indigenous teachings, with open dialogue around them, the work of the Strategic Group centered around co-learning and helped to explore new ways of how we may define and measure progress.
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS • Develop timeframes and structures that can support the integration of Indigenous wisdom into the EOED platform and particiaption ecosystem. This includes centering Indigenous voices and knowledge systems across all faucets of work and ensuring that this is reflected in the resource/budget plan (eg., dedicated staff working hours). • Maintain a focused effort on establishing new connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to help foster a network of safe and inviting spaces that can support cultural exchange and inclusive participation within and across neighbourhoods. • Develop a Theory of Change based on the learnings from the pilot (grounded in reconciliation and inclusive particiaption), and use it to guide the evaluation of structures and frameworks that support and stregthen the work (ie. learning and evaluation frameworks, approach to governance, etc.).
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We’ve been living in parallel for so long. It’s about time we came together. - Resident
CLOSING STATEMENT Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax aims to inspire a way of life in neighbourhoods and communities where the things that we value, like relationships, culture, or connection to nature, are reflected in the places we live and the things we do together. And where reconciliation can be practiced daily, through welcoming opportunities to learn from and with Indigenous communities so that we may respect and honour the culture and traditions of many different nations, and build trusting relationships that can nurture a new path forward. In the short time that EOED was brought to life in Kjipuktuk-Halifax, we saw a glimpse of many different residents working side-by-side to bring ideas to life in the neighbourhood, while supporting others to take part. We sparked excitement and curiosity around what life could be like if everyday, there were inviting spaces for neighbours to easily connect, share, learn, and create. At the centre of all of this, we initiated a journey towards reconciliation in neighbourhoods, sparking our collective imaginations around what’s possible with spaces and opportunities to be together in new ways. While we hope this is just the beginning, the vision for EOED rests in the hands of no single individual or organization, but rather, is an invitation for all of us to take part in creating a future society that centres connectedness, healing, regeneration, and where the creative potential of everyone, can be realized. Wela’lin~Merci~Thank you
