On September 30, GeoVerra is pausing its regularly scheduled quarterly town hall for a special presentation with Melissa Mbarki, a member of the Muskowekwan First Nation. She is joining us for a conversation and learning opportunity around residential schools and the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Melissa, a well-known writer for the National Post and the Canadian Energy Centre, is the Policy Analyst and Outreach Coordinator of the Indigenous Policy Program at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
To support our team members in meaningful conversations, we’ve compiled a variety of resources that they are encouraged to explore in an effort to LISTEN, LEARN, REFLECT and ACT. It is our responsibility to listen, learn and take action where we can as individuals and as an organization. We’ve shared the links below to support you in your efforts.
Resources curated by the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Alberta (CPHR Alberta).
Listen
Reconciliation is a process of healing relationships that require public truth sharing, apology, and commemoration that acknowledge and redress past harms. This starts with listening to the truth of the past and current harm that has impacted Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island.
Read the TRC’s calls to action and know which apply to you;
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission: 94 Calls to Action
- The Honourable Murray Sinclair on How Canadians can work toward reconciliation
Listen to the impact of colonialism, racism, and the harms that have created disadvantages for Indigenous peoples;
- Woodland Cultural Centre: Residential School Virtual Tour
- A Mother’s Voice by Holly Fortier
- Decolonization is for Everyone by Nikki Sanchez
Utilize resources like the Assembly of First Nations toolkit
Learn
Educating yourself, and taking accountability for building knowledge, is an ongoing process and change will not be easy.
- Build cultural awareness: Indigenous Canada, University Alberta
- Seek to understand the Indigenous experience in the workplace and how workplaces can benefit from Indigenous professionals and culture
- Building Inclusion for Indigenous Peoples in Canadian Workplaces from Catalyst
- Indigenous Teachings for Leaders from Workplace Strategies for Mental Health:
- Learn about Indigenous businesses and communities that are around your organization
- National Indigenous Business Directory from CCAB
- Territories by Land from Whose Land
Reflect
Before action takes place, take the time to think deeply about the intentional response to reconciliation. This often means an internal reflection about motivations and applying learnings in a meaningful way.
Ask yourself:
- What could reconciliation look like for my team, my role, my organization?
- What do Indigenous communities and businesses want out of a partnership?
- Which Indigenous business needs and goals can my organization address?
Act
The calls to action say that “Canadians must do more than talk about reconciliation we must learn how to practice reconciliation in our workplaces”.
The call for corporate Canada to respond to TRC action #92 must be built on a strong foundation with organizational focus, leadership support, and a commitment to achieve equitable representation of Indigenous peoples in your workforce, business development and procurement opportunities with Indigenous-owned businesses, and focused engagement with Indigenous communities.