Ways to Engage in Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour Residential School survivors and reflect on the ongoing impact these schools have had on children, families, and communities.

As a primarily settler-run childcare center, Wee Wild Ones is on a path toward understanding our role in decolonization and reconciliation. While we are not experts, we have embraced a journey of truth, reflection, unlearning, and action, and we invite you to join us.

Truth

The first step in our journey was to relinquish our role as experts. We leaned into humility and vulnerability and listened deeply to Indigenous leaders, friends and community members. When we exchanged apathy for curiosity, we heard true stories of lived experiences.   

We learned about Residential Schools, intergenerational trauma, and our collective history. We listened and then sat in truth.

Reflection

While discovering a truth we hadn't previously considered, we were encouraged to self-reflect. We explored our ancestries and worked towards strengthening the connection between ourselves and our own ancestors' way of life.

Reconciliation isn’t about being immobilized by feelings of guilt or shame. It is about the process of exploring who we are and where we came from. Reconciliation is the lifelong commitment to building mutual connections rooted in shared understanding.

Unlearning

There is often a negative thought pattern related to Indigenous peoples. By recognizing our own culture and practices, it became clear that we must deepen our understanding of biases and assumptions. We began to shift our beliefs and unlearn judgements and thought patterns we had previously fostered.

Action

After making sense of how history manifests in contemporary times, we mobilized our learning and have begun to weave this information into everyday practices. At Wee Wild Ones, we have courageous conversations, take ownership of mistakes, and lead with love. We seek truth, connection, and partnership.

How Can You and Your Littles Engage in Truth and Reconciliation?

Image credit: Moonstone Creation

Wear An Orange Shirt for Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30th was inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s experience at a Residential School where a bright orange shirt her grandmother bought her and she loved, was taken away. This represents the treatment of Indigenous peoples and the message that Every Child Matters. Wearing an orange shirt demonstrates your ongoing commitment to the truth that Every Child Matters, without exception.

Many retailers sell orange shirts, however, we strongly encourage you to purchase from local Indigenous shops to give back to the community directly.

You can purchase an orange shirt locally from Moonstone Creation, an Indigenous-owned, family-run shop in Inglewood. They have youth and adult sizes!

Image Credit: USAY

Take Your Littles on a Learning Walking Trip with IndigiTRAILS

Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) has the IndigiTrails app that can be used as a wonderful tool to become more educated on Indigenous history in Calgary. Using your GPS and camera on your phone, you can view art installations created by Indigenous artists placed around Calgary, as well as opportunities to learn about the culture and history. With a variety of different trails at Prince’s Island Park, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Elbow River Park, and more,

With a variety of different trails, you will find that there is a lot to uncover and this is a great way to engage in the conversation around truth and reconciliation.

Check out all the other programs and offerings from USAY while you are there!

Tune in to The 8th Fire Documentary and More

This series, The 8th Fire: Aboriginal Peoples, Canada & the Way Forward, contains 4 episodes that demonstrate the journey through First Nations Culture in Canada and why we need systemic change to fix Canada’s 500-year-old relationship with Indigenous peoples.

In addition to these, Alberta Municipalities has put together a list of Truth and Reconciliation documentaries and films to watch. Take a look at their list here.

Events to Attend in The Community

Image Credit: MRU: Focus on Teaching & Learning Youtube

Ani to pisi: Human spiderweb - September 25th at 12 PM

Hosted by the Office of Indigenization and Decolonization, in partnership with the Iniskim Centre at Mount Royal University, Ani to pisi is a story of creation, originating from the late Elder, Clement Bear Chief, from Siksika Nation. This event is FREE and will involve creating a human spider web to symbolize the critical role that human connection has in systemic change. Presents include: Roy Bear Chief, Hayden Melting Tallow, Stephen Price, & Others.

This is a fantastic way for the whole family to engage in reconciliation efforts in our community. Register here!

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Arts Commons - September 30th

Celebrate Indigenous ways of knowing and being! The day begins at 12 pm in the Jack Singer Concert Hall lobby for the Indigenous Makers Market. You can sign up for an art gallery tour and artist talk in the Galleries at Arts Commons, and the day ends in the Jack Singer Concert Hall for the Elders Story Project.

Lunch and Learn Webinars - For Parents & Educators!

Between September 23rd - September 27th, 2024, you can attend Lunch and Learn Webinars hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. With a range of expert speakers discussing topics from allyship and confronting unconscious bias to how to address the barriers to reconciliation, you are sure to walk away with newfound knowledge and insights. Although these webinars are targeted towards an Adult Audience, this is a great opportunity to get educated and use this information to teach our future leaders and thinkers in the spirit of reconciliation.

FREE Online Course for Educators!

‘Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education’ is a free six-week online course offered by the University of British Columbia that starts on September 24th and runs until November 5th. The course will deepen your understanding of practices that support reconciliation in places where you live, learn, and work. You will have the opportunity to consider and imagine how Indigenous histories, perspectives, worldviews, and teaching methods can be thoughtfully integrated into classrooms, workplaces, communities, and daily life in meaningful, respectful ways.

To see what actions Wee Wild Ones is taking in our reconciliation efforts, take a look at our Inclusion page where we outline the Four major areas in which we are taking action: Business for Reconciliation, Team for Reconciliation, Classrooms for Reconciliation, and Love and Voice for Reconciliation. We are continuously learning, but we are always open and receptive to change. If you have ideas or recommendations for how we can push further in our reconciliation efforts, we would love to hear from you. We welcome you to get in touch with us at hello@weewildones-yyc.com, or drop a comment in one of our suggestion boxes at our various centres.