The impact of residential schools is still felt today, affecting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people and communities, and contributing to inequalities.
Reconciliation is critical to healing this rift and enabling the wellbeing and prosperity of all peoples in Canada.
Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Improving the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.
DWF aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
1. 2016 Canadian Public Opinion on Aboriginal Peoples, Environics, 2016 (page 12). 2. 2016 Canadian Public Opinion on Aboriginal Peoples, Environics, 2016 (page 17). 3. National Narrative on Reconciliation Report, Reconciliation Canada, 2016.
DWF recognizes that reconciliation is not easily defined. It is not linear and does not have a clear endpoint. To us, reconciliation is a continuous process, a journey of learning and action, that leads to improved outcomes for Indigenous people and communities.
DWF provides education on the true history of Canada and the lasting impact of residential schools. DWF encourages participation in reconciliation through our programming, campaigns, partnerships and events that build awareness, education, connections. Reconciliation is not just an Indigenous issue. It is a Canadian issue.
Our work is based on the pillars of Awareness, Education, Action + Connection.
ReconciliACTIONs are meaningful actions that move reconciliation forward and aim to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together in the spirit of reconciliation to create awareness, share and learn. They act as a catalyst for important conversations and change, and fulfill Gord’s call to action to “Do Something”.
Legacy Schools provides free educational tools and resources to thousands of schools throughout Canada to ensure education is inclusive of the unique rights, interests and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples.
Legacy Spaces gives corporations, government, educational institutions and other organizations a chance to play an important role in reconciliation by providing safe spaces to learn about Indigenous history and reconciliation.
What is reconciliation?
According to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. In order for that to happen, there must be awareness of the past, an acknowledgement of harm, and action to change behaviour.
DWF recognizes that reconciliation is not easily defined. It is not linear and does not have a clear endpoint. To us, reconciliation is a continuous process, a journey, that leads to improved outcomes for Indigenous people and communities.
Reconciliation begins with you. Will you start your reconciliation journey today?
Source: “The Two Row Wampum Belt: An Akwesasne Tradition of the Vessel and Canoe,” by D. Bonaparte, n.d., http://www.wampumchronicles.com/tworowwampumbelt.html
Walking Together: The Two Row Wampum – Haudenosaunee and Anishnabek
The Two Row Wampum belt is the symbolic record of the first agreement between European settlers and Indigenous people of Turtle Island, over 400 years ago. This first covenant formed the basis for the covenant chain for all subsequent treaty relationships between the Haudenosaunee and the settler governments. Unfortunately, the settlers did not uphold their end of the agreement.
The Two Row Wampum displays a mutual commitment to:
For more information or to discuss partnership opportunities: Angela@downiewenjack.ca
Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.
Phone: 1-844-944-4545
E-mail: staff@downiewenjack.ca
Address:
PO BOX 749
OHSWEKEN, ON
N0A1M0
