Truth and Reconciliation

To fully realize the decisions, practices, and actions that are necessary to centre Truth and Reconciliation in our work, we need to continue integrating reflective and reflexive practices in the sphere of the Every One Every Day network. Discerning our accountabilities as Treaty people is essential to the journey. It is through this process that we will be best equipped to recognize and dismantle colonizing processes and take reconciliatory action.

Examples of our early thinking about bringing Reconciliation to life through the platform:

• Supporting First Nations, Inuit and Métis community members to develop participation projects that embed cultural teaching, and knowledge around Indigenous history and culture.

• Assessing the ways in which we work to support practices of reflection & reciprocity.

• Considering our individual and collective impacts on the natural world, and encouraging projects that support connection to nature.

• Using important communication channels, like the newspaper, to share elements of Indigenous wisdom and worldview.

• Identifying opportunities to work with Indigenous community members to enhance the presence of

Indigenous culture across public spaces, including the shop.

Our exploration into the ways in which we could support Truth and Reconciliation learning-into-action has surfaced a set of guideposts which we developed to help align our intentions with concrete actions. These guideposts have been identified through our experiences and team learning to date, and are just the beginning of a long-term commitment to advance truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and the urban Indigenous population of Kjipuktuk.

Guideposts:

Considering our impact on the First Peoples of this land, and with the same lens, taking care to eliminate the on-going harm and oppression of racialized and marginalized communities.

Halifax North is home to many culturally diverse neighbourhoods and communities. We understand that not all groups of residents share in the same experiences, many whose life stories are impacted by the on-going effects of colonized processes that are woven deep within our economic and social infrastructure. This guidepost helps us to prevent further harm by requiring us to consistently examine our decision-making and actions, and become accountable to what we are modeling to community and the influence we have.

Building Indigenous identity and belonging in the urban context.

The reasons for the lack of Indigenous identity in public places and spaces in Kjipuktuk are complex and involve many facets of our shared history and muddled treaty relationship. Still, there is an ever-growing push from urban Indigenous groups and allies to increase the presence of Indigenous spirit and experience throughout the city. This guidepost inspires us to be creative and seek out opportunities that contribute to building Indigenous identity and Mi’kmaw story in neighbourhoods and communities, and to ensure these contributions are led by Indigenous people.

Creating space for truth and honouring the process of healing.

We are only beginning to understand the horrific realities of Canada’s dark history and the treatment of the First Peoples of these lands. It is our responsibility as Treaty people to make space for surfacing these uncomfortable truths within ourselves, the communities we are connected to, and the systems we uphold, and to do this in ways that are not extractive or harmful to Indigenous people. This guidepost pushes us to determine and acknowledge our positionality and welcomes spaces for sharing, with consideration and care, using an Indigenous approach.

Thinking and acting for future generations.

The Mi’kmaw teaching of Netukulimk, asks us, as individuals and as community members, to protect our shared resources and advocate for a prosperous community life that is sustainable for the next seven generations. We acknowledge that this way of being and walking in the world is important, now more than ever. This guidepost influences the decisions we make and requires us to plan for both the near and distant future realities of life on our Earth Mother.

Examples of adapting how we work or what we offer: no more use of plastic water bottles, introducing fresh foods and supporting local growers.

Recognizing the interconnectedness of all living things and being a good relative.

Many First Nations across Turtle Island share in the

ideology of “all my relations” and the embodiment of natural law. Here in Mi’kma’ki (the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq), the expression “msit no’kmaq” is used, meaning “all my relations”. This acknowledges the interdependency of all living and natural things and recognizes the sacredness of people, land, and nature. This guidepost makes us accountable to one another, to our surrounding environment, and all that exists within, and ensures that the actions we take are rooted in love, respect, and reciprocity.

Every One Every Day Team

Creating a process for team learning around the history and culture of the Indigenous People of Turtle Island is a top priority. To move through the work in a way that is just and helps to accelerate the building of awareness and initiation of reconciliatory action, we also need to expand and deepen this learning by examining our current work culture and the relationships we hold with all contributors. A Reconciliation Framework is being built that gives structure to these accountabilities and helps us to make tangible our commitment to centering Truth and Reconciliation in Evey One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax.

Neighbourhoods

Central to our work in Halifax is the development of a new set of approaches to citizen-led life and learning that help to foster Truth and Reconciliation at the neighbourhood level. This means working closely with Indigenous people and communities in the urban context to foster a sense of belonging, influence the creation of projects that invite learning “Turtle Island” around Indigenous culture, and is a term for North weave Reconciliation principles and practices into the growing participation ecosystem. America. It has origins within the creation stories of many First Nations.

Systems

Decolonizing the structures and processes that are embedded in and among systems is no easy feat. It is important to move beyond grabbing the low hanging fruit and start undertaking clear, concrete actions to dismantle prevailing deleterious structures and processes. Only then, can we rebuild new and equitable ways to live, work, and play together, where Indigenous presence is realized and all can thrive. Referencing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s ‘96 Calls to Action’ and working alongside local Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers is a great place to start.

“Being a good relative” means to acknowledge the interconnectedness among people, land, and nature by living in a way that honours a relationship of respect, reciprocity, and stewardship.

Insights and Areas for Growth:

• Creating a Reconciliation Framework that includes regular team learning sessions to develop a greater understanding of colonial processes and mindsets that show up in our work and our day to day lives.

• Integrating Indigenous practices and ceremony into our relations within our team, with partners, and in community.

• Incorporating Indigenous wisdom and perspective into everything we do.

• Creating a Guide Group made up of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Indigenous artisans, Indigenous youth, and Two-Spirited folx

• Continuing to integrate Indigenous worldviews and perspectives in future partner gatherings

• Focusing efforts on attracting more of the urban Indigenous community and building in relevance of Indigenous experience.

STOO METZ