Westwood Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Resources

Westwood Unitarian is committed to learning, growing & engaging in relationship with our Indigenous neighbours. The Canadian Truth & Reconciliation Commission final report is now available – and we are working to understand what it means for us, as people of good will.

– Check out the posts below for upcoming events and reflections related to truth, healing and reconciliation –

#TRCEvents What can we do?

learn: some resources and opportunities are listed below
listen: with an open heart and an open mind
show up when invited: check out the posts below for upcoming events

What is Reconciliation and What It is Not: A blog post by Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., including a link to a personal Pledge of Reconciliation

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reading Group

This group met in 2017 to read the Summary Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and share our reflections together. Participants were asked to commit to attending all four sessions and completing the reading, which was about 100 pages each month. If interested in future groups or other reconciliation related activities contact: Reconciliation@westwoodunitarian.ca

In early 2016, Westwood was a test congregation for

The Canadian Unitarian Council’s

Truth, Healing & Reconciliation Reflection Guide

We met for 4 workshops focusing on:

Engaging and Locating Ourselves
Understanding
Connection
Healing & Reconciliation

The following is a list of resources we have used &/or learned about –

for folks to review and for new folks to join the work.

The Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada

There you will find .pdf files of the reports & recommendations of the Commission.

Hard cover & digital copies are also available at the library.

Consider signing up for the TRC Reading Challenge. It is so important that as many people as possible actually read these documents.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

**National Film Board film “We Were Children”:** (1hr 22min)

“In this feature film, the profound impact of the Canadian government’s residential school system is conveyed through the eyes of two children who were forced to face hardships beyond their years. As young children, Lyna and Glen were taken from their homes and placed in church-run boarding schools, where they suffered years of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, the effects of which persist in their adult lives. We Were Children gives voice to a national tragedy and demonstrates the incredible resilience of the human spirit.”

You can borrow the film from the Edmonton Public Library.

or you can rent the film from the NFB website. (Very low cost)

Available at the Edmonton Public Library.

Thomas King’s video I’m Not the Indian You Had in Mind (5:28)

On the National Screen Institute’s website – no charge:

A video exploration offering insight as to how First Nations people today are changing old ideas and empowering themselves in the greater community

~ A great ‘quick study’ in stereotypes ~

CBC’s 8^th Fire, first episode: Indigenous in the City (45:10 minutes)

Hosted by Wab Kinew, CBC’s “8TH FIRE is a provocative, high-energy journey through Aboriginal country showing you why we need to fix Canada’s 500 year-old relationship with Indigenous peoples; a relationship mired in colonialism, conflict and denial.”

Watch all 4 episodes free online

#2: It’s Time! #3: Who’s Land Is It Anyway? #4: At A Crossroads

Reconciliation Canada Resources:

Reconciliation Canada Dialogue Guide
Kitchen Table Dialogue Guide

+ 3 Videos on YouTube:

Part 1: Culture and Ancestry (6:35 minutes)

“In this interview, Chief Joseph discusses his childhood memories of Kwakwaka’wakw culture and explains why understanding the context of culture and ancestry is critical in the present day.”^{^[1]} (Pronunciation: Kwak-wak-ya-wak)

Part 2: Residential School (3:15 minutes)

In the next video: Chief Robert Joseph describes his experience at St. Michael’s Indian Residential School and how the trauma of the residential school system affected him as a young man.

The Language of Reconciliation Video (4:11 minutes)

Here’s the context for this video:

“A Shared Tomorrow:

We are Elders from Aboriginal and other ancient histories who care about Canadians and answered a call to action in November 2012. For two days, we gathered on the traditional territories of the Musqueam People to explore how Reconciliation, as a way of being, can help our society move forward. To that end we have made a video to explain who we are and invite you to join us on this path.”

Bob Joseph’s website “Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.” & blog “Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples®”

http://www.ictinc.ca/first-nation-protocol-thanking-host-first-nation

This website & blog contain a wealth of free and helpful information – as well as corporate training programs available for registration. Worth a look for everyone.