The Government of Canada recently passed legislation to make September 30th a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides opportunity for public servants to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools.
While the Government of Alberta, disappointingly, chose not to recognize this new statutory holiday and its important purpose and meaning, the City of Calgary has and so have our public and separate school boards.
Not everyone will have the opportunity to take this day off to reflect and honour, but I hope everyone does take time to consider what it means to be a great neighbour, to help foster thriving neighbourhoods, to know the true history of Canada, and to understand the legacy of grief and pain many of our Indigenous neighbours carry with them. We all have a responsibility in a caring society to ensure every neighbour feels safe, secure, seen and included.
For our Indigenous neighbours, this means listening and bearing witness to their stories while laying the burden of learning at our own feet. There are hundreds of resources available to become informed and educated about residential schools, stories, the history of colonization, and the 94 Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. Please use this list as a starting point:
The Government of Canada recently passed legislation to make September 30th a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides opportunity for public servants to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools.
While the Government of Alberta, disappointingly, chose not to recognize this new statutory holiday and its important purpose and meaning, the City of Calgary has and so have our public and separate school boards.
Not everyone will have the opportunity to take this day off to reflect and honour, but I hope everyone does take time to consider what it means to be a great neighbour, to help foster thriving neighbourhoods, to know the true history of Canada, and to understand the legacy of grief and pain many of our Indigenous neighbours carry with them. We all have a responsibility in a caring society to ensure every neighbour feels safe, secure, seen and included.
For our Indigenous neighbours, this means listening and bearing witness to their stories while laying the burden of learning at our own feet. There are hundreds of resources available to become informed and educated about residential schools, stories, the history of colonization, and the 94 Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. Please use this list as a starting point:
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94 TRC Calls to Action https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524494530110/1557511412801
APTN News - Calgary feed https://www.aptnnews.ca/tag/calgary/ - Spirit Bear’s Guide to Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/child_friendly_calls_to_action_web.pdf
- White Goose Flying Report to Calgary City Council Calls to Action file:///Users/kimpagegluckie/Downloads/white-goose-flying-calls-to-action-cauac%20(1).pdf
- 48 Books by Indigenous Writers to Read and Understand Residential Schools https://www.cbc.ca/books/48-books-by-indigenous-writers-to-read-to-understand-residential-schools-1.6056204
- Phyllis Webstad - On Orange Shirt Day (founder of Orange Shirt Day) https://youtu.be/EuW4WbekhxY
- Calgary Reads book list for children https://www.littleredreading.house/product-category/book-picks/?product_tag=indigenous
- CBC Gem, CBC Kids and CBC Radio have full days of programming
- Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen program today is a special series of interviews with Indigenous guests
If you need support or would like to offer support, these local organizations are a good place to start:
- Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary https://www.afccalgary.org/
- Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary https://elizabethfrycalgary.ca/programs/indigenous-cultural-supports/
If elected as your councillor in Ward 12, I am committed to doing localized work to educate and act on the 94 steps of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I intend on creating local advisory groups in Ward 12 and working with Community Associations to ensure Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action are understood and implemented at a local level, based on the feedback from advisory groups which would be led by local Indigenous community members.
In addition to my life mission being in community, learning and listening to my neighbours and bearing witness to their journeys and stories, I have always committed to engaging others to make the change that makes community better for everyone.
To adopt deeper learning of what Indigenous families and individuals have experienced, and still experience, I have participated in the KAIROS Blanket Exercise Workshop. I recently participated in anti-racist organizational change (AROC) training with Look Forward Calgary. I will continue to learn and advocate for actions that meet the expectations of both the White Goose Flying Report and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.
If you have friends in Ward 7, or if you would like to simply cheer her on, please take a look at Marilyn North Peigan’s campaign to be councillor of Ward 7. She is the first Blackfoot candidate to run for City Council and certainly an inspiring role model for the City of Calgary.