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 Peoples.
A reconciliACTION is a meaningful action that moves reconciliation forward. ReconciliACTIONs aim to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together in the spirit of reconciliation to create awareness, share, and learn. It is the answer to Gord’s call to ‘Do Something’; do something to raise further awareness, do something that improves the lives of Indigenous people, do something that improves the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. ReconciliACTIONs act as the catalyst for important conversations and meaningful change, recognizing that change starts with every one of us and each person can make an impact.
Below is a list of reconciliACTION ideas – reconciliACTIONs will be unique to each individual, group and community, and may incorporate events, cultural activities, updated inclusivity policies, learning opportunities, fundraising, and/or professional development to support awareness and appreciation of Indigenous cultures and traditions.
We want to hear about your reconciliACTIONs! Make sure you fill out our reconciliACTION form and share photos on social media using the #SPW21 #DoSomething #reconciliACTION.
Individual & Community Actions
Awareness & Education
Schools
Workplaces
Podcasts
Novels
Moon of the Crusted Snow – Waubeshig Rice, DWF Artist Ambassador
Split Tooth – Tanya Tagaq
Ragged Company – Richard Wagamese
Blanket Toss Under Midnight Sun – Paul Seesequasis
Code Talker – Cheser Nez
Children’s Books
My Sweetest Kulu – Celina Kalluk
Tanna’s Owl – Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley
When We Were Alone – David Roberston
Just a Walk – Jordan Wheeler
You Hold Me Up – Monique Gray Smith
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Students organized a raffle purchasing prizes from Indigenous owned businesses.
Students also learned whose land the schools is situated on and wrote the acknowledgement on sidewalk around the school to help inform community.
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Students made buffalo tooth necklaces, hosted a Cree student who shared his family’s experience with intergenerational trauma, and created an art piece to commemorate Indigenous veterans.
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22 grade 4 and 5 students hosted a Walk for Wenjack, listened to Indigenous singer Leela Gilday, and read the book “Fatty Legs” as a class. They also committed to learning Canada’s true history of residential schools, the Mi’kmaq lobster dispute, and Indigenous Rights.
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Students from the LDSB participated in a live session with Ray John, created art pieces, and discussed reconciliation in their classrooms to commemorate Orange Shirt Day
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Students created a beautiful mural in their hallway to honour and remember all the children forced to attend residential schools.
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Students organized a Walk for Wenjack, learned about Canada’a true history with residential schools, and created space in their classroom to share and create.
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Students from Ecole Confederation Elementary School in the Grand Erie District School Board took part in the “Between the Two Rows” community mural project. It is a community mural that examines personal identity, cultural boundaries, and the importance of relationship building between cultures through communication and collaboration. The central/compositional imagery is based on the symbolism of the Two Row Wampum which was a 17th-century peace agreement between the Haudenosaunee and the European settlers. Two boats moving side by side on the river in peace and friendship.
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Kindergarten students from Lakefield District Public School in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board showed there’s no such thing as being too young to integrate First Nations, Metis, and Inuit resources and acts of reconciliation into a classroom. Using the story “When we Were Alone” by Alexander Robertson, students shared what their “most important thing” was and what it means to them. The class then created a poster – using the colours of the medicine wheel alongside their school’s First Nations, Metis, Inuit Educator – that travels to classrooms within the school community. This poster holds QR codes that link to audio of students telling you the story of their “most important thing” in their own voices.
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Holy Trinity Catholic High School of the Ottawa Catholic School Board has created a mural that includes an acknowledgement that their school is located on unceded territory of the Algonquin people. Along with the painted mural they have placed banners created by students of the Ottawa Catholic School Board. These banners depict the four directions of the medicine wheel along with their teachings. All of these help create a physical space that shows the commitment of students and staff to move reconciliation forward within their community.
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
