Hello everyone. June is Indigenous History Month. On June 21^st we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is also one year after the unmarked burial sites were unearthed at the former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. Since then, many more children’s bodies have been located at sites of residential schools across the country. I offer my ongoing and deepest condolences to the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit impacted by the legacy of residential schools in Canada.

As the CEO and President of a non-profit dedicated to the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities I am deeply concerned about the ongoing purposeful exclusion and colonization of Indigenous peoples in Alberta and across Canada. There remains inadequate action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls. Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirt peoples are unsafe despite 231 Calls for Justice. We all have a part to play in dismantling the structures and systems that limit Indigenous peoples’ sovereignty, safety, and dignity. We have a role in honouring their strengths, wisdom, and self-determination.

There are concrete actions that we can take to walk alongside Indigenous peoples, communities, and organizations. They have made their concerns and desires clear. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit have repeatedly shared their wisdom, stories, and culture. It is vital that we listen. And then listen again before acting. There is a lot to learn and unlearn. We dedicate this newsletter to highlighting opportunities for non-Indigenous organizations and people to listen, listen again, and then act. Building on our newsletter from June of last year we draw attention to more learning opportunities. We also link to resources for people who require crisis support and healing. I hope you will join me in listening, listening again, and acting to promote a more just future for Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Stay Well,
Robyn Blackadar

Listening is essential to allyship. Indigenous peoples have long shared their stories, art, languages, ceremonies, and experiences. We highlight places where you can start or extend your listening journey keeping in mind the rich diversity of Indigenous cultures. We encourage you seek out and share others.

Learn about Indigenous peoples’ connections to the earth – Turtle Island – that they have stewarded for generations. This is the land, water, and beings with whom we are all interconnected. Native Land Digital has information on territories, languages, and treaties from across Canada and the globe. Ethnobotanist from the Skwxwú7mesh First Nation, Leigh Joseph (Styawat) explores the link between traditional medicines, foods, and culture in the yetwánaý Project. Rich Francis is a Six Nations chef committed to Indigenous food sovereignty. Watch the show he hosts called Wild Game TV. David Wolfman is a Xaxli’p First Nation chef. Try out his recipes and follow him on Twitter.

Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s reports. There is a child-friendly version. Bear witness to the stories of residential school survivors. Kuper Island is a new CBC podcast hosted by Duncan McCue that tells the story of four residential school students. Journalist Connie Walker explores her father’s experience of residential school in the podcast Stolen - Surviving St. Michael’s. Read Michelle Good’s Five Little Indians that follows five survivors from early childhood. Listen to her talk with Dr. Kahente Horn-Miller about Indigenous issues. Watch the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation webinar where they answer settlers’ questions about residential schools.

Hear stories of missing and murdered women and girls and stolen children. Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo is a podcast that follows two siblings’ journey to find their sister. Listen to the Truth Sharing Podcasts inspired by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Deep listening is required to meaningfully and appropriately support the priorities of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Here are more opportunities to listen and learn about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures, histories, and values.

Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society has a gallery featuring videos of Knowledge Holders. Among other topics, they talk about women’s roles, language, and the power of ceremony. Unreserved is a podcast that centres conversations on Indigenous perspectives and experiences hosted by Rosanna Deerchild. FirstVoices is an online space for Indigenous communities to share and promote their languages. They also have links to language learning resources for kids.

Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. has resources, including free e-books, to learn about working effectively with Indigenous peoples. Partner with an Indigenous-led agency, like Naheyawin, to steward the spirit of the Treaty to your workplace. Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta has two new online courses available to the public. Take their free Massive Open Online Course called Indigenous Canada. Learn about Alberta First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives in curriculum. Visit a virtual museum. For example, join the Sq'éwlets Nation as they share their origins and personal histories – sxwōxwiyám and sqwélqwel – online.

Your local public library is an excellent place to find learning resources. The Calgary Public Library has Indigenous services and resources for celebrating Indigenous History Month and learning throughout the year. Check out their Indigenous Placemaking initiative along with the Indigenous Languages Resource Centre.  Edmonton Public Library also has Indigenous Services. They have suggestions for picking out children’s books by Indigenous authors. Visit Voices of the Land for stories from Indigenous Alberta. 

Action is necessary for meaningful change. Too long have the priorities and calls from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit been ignored. Review the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s 94 calls for action (French version is here). Watch Reconciliation Begins with You and Me, which is a family-friendly video created by the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. Commit to acting on calls that align with your personal and professional scope of influence. Encourage the organization where you work to do the same. Follow Indigenous Watchdog to understand how the calls are being acted on, or not.

The Final Report on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls includes calls for justice. Act on these calls as they align with your scope of influence and practice. Advocate for governments to do the same. Complete the online escape room, Della’s Story, with your colleagues, friends, or family to learn about the Sixties Scoop. It was created by the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth. Colour the Every Child Matters colouring pages designed by artist Hawlii Pichette. Discuss their meaning with your family. Write to the Federal government demanding action on the Spirit Bear Plan.

Learn about Indigenous data sovereignty and governance. Apply principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP®) to Indigenous peoples’ and communities’ data. The First Nations Information Governance Centre has training and resources on OCAP®. The Global Indigenous Data Alliance has information and resources to advance Indigenous data sovereignty and governance.

Follow Indigenous-led organizations, artists, knowledge keepers, activists, and journalists, among others. Respond to their calls for support. Share what you learn with your own network, family, and community. Here are some organizations to follow: Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society, Creating Hope Society of Alberta, Miskanawah, Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association, Métis Nation of Alberta, Indigenous Child Well-being Research Network, Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, and Assembly of First Nations. Shop at and partner with Indigenous-led business. For example, find First Nations, Métis, and Inuit authors at Indigenous-owned and led Massy Books. 

If you are a former student or have been affected by residential schools and need crisis support or counselling, the First Nations Health Authority has a 24-hour National Residential School Crisis line available in French and English at 1-866-925-4419. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society can also offer support at 1-800-721-0066.

KUU-US Crisis Line Society has a culturally safe First Nations and Indigenous specific crisis line that is available 24 hours a day. Adults/Elders: 1-800-588-8717. Youth: 250-723-2040. Or online.

Talk 4 Healing has a culturally grounded helpline for Indigenous women, available 24 hours per day at: 1-855-554-HEAL (4325). Their crisis line is: 1-888-200-9997.

PolicyWise and its board acknowledge that our offices are located on Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and Treaty 8 territories and the traditional meeting grounds and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Nêhiyawak, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika), Tsuut’ina (Sarcee), Dene, Mountain Cree, and the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations. PolicyWise offices are also located in Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 and Region 4. We respect the Treaties that were made. We acknowledge the harms and mistakes that continue in the present. We dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.