This Thursday, PFM will be marking Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by doing group work that allows for reflection on the truth, recognizing – in the words of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report – that without truth, there can be no genuine reconciliation. From the Canadian Government; the European settlers’; and the United, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Catholic Church’s systemic attempt of cultural genocide of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, to the micro-aggressions we may not recognize are part of our everyday dialogue and thought, we need to ensure we all know our history so we can do better.
There is an abundance of information that Canadians can dig into, and it can feel overwhelming in terms of where to begin. On Thursday, we want to make sure that all members of the PFM team have a shared understanding so we can move forward together. Therefore, we are going to be focusing our efforts on the following resources:
- “21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act” by Bob Joseph. The book is straightforward and frank, and demystifies any legislative-speak to create real clarity on the systemic approach to eradicating the “Indian problem”.
- Dr. Daniel Heath Justice and Dr. Sean Carleton’s article on Residential School denialism. https://beyond.ubc.ca/8-ways-to-confront-residential-school-denialism/
- Many excellent resources through the Legacy of Hope Foundation, but particularly the video stories from residential school survivors: www.legacyofhope.ca/wherearethechildren/stories/
If you are looking for resources, we would recommend these as a good place to start. We would also welcome recommendations and suggestions, recognizing this is just a beginning.