Take reconciliACTION today

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.

RECONCILIACTION IDEAS:

Individual & Community Actions

1. Organize a Walk for Wenjack with friends, family, and your community. See page for more information.
   • Organized by a dedicated team of volunteers and champions, Walk for Wenjack is a grassroots event that started in 2016, providing Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples throughout Canada with the opportunity to honour Chanie by walking some or all of the 600 kilometres he needed to get home.
   • To register for Walk for Wenjack and create your personal or team event page, click here.
2. Visit a local Indigenous organization, Friendship Centre, community group or museum.
3. If invited or open to the public, attend local Indigenous cultural events taking place in your community.
4. Organize a movie night for your community and screen Gord Downie’s Secret Path, Tash Hubbard’s ‘nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, or Finding the Secret Path by Mike Downie.
5. Host an evening of music with Indigenous musicians.
6. Organize a bake sale or lunch-by-donation, featuring Indigenous recipes, or host a culinary competition and charge per serving to vote on the winner.
7. On your birthday, consider asking for donations to an Indigenous-led charity instead of presents or cards.
8. For those who prefer not to celebrate their birthday, consider making a donation to an Indigenous-led charity in their name rather than purchasing a card or dessert.
9. Contact local food trucks and organize a lunch event with a cover charge or a portion of sales collected.
10. Purchase artwork from a local Indigenous artist and raise funds through a raffle or silent auction for the piece.
11. Purchase products from Indigenous-owned businesses and raise funds for an Indigenous-led charity through a raffle or silent auction for the items.
12. Partner with local Legacy Schools or neighbouring businesses and host a block party.
13. Organize a garage sale, flea market, or green market to sell used clothing and unwanted household items.
14. Host an open mic night or karaoke event and charge admission.
15. For those who prefer not to celebrate their birthday at work, consider making a donation in their name rather than purchasing a card or dessert.

Awareness & Education

1. Learn the land acknowledgment in your region or develop one of your own in consultation with local Indigenous communities.
   • Be sure to carefully consider your relationship to the land that you live on and the traditional territories of the Indigenous Peoples who were there for thousands of years before colonization.
   • Encourage your school, company and/or community to include a daily land acknowledgment as part of morning announcements, meetings, assemblies, and important events.
2. Research the local First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and the contributions they have made to your community/surrounding communities.
   • Share your knowledge and spread the word to engage others in the conversation about Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to Canada and the world.
3. Find out if there was a residential school in your area or where the closest one is located by using the CBC Beyond94 Residential School Map.
   • For more resources about residential schools visit the Legacy Schools Resources page.
4. Listen to music made by Indigenous artists, such as Buffy Sainte-Marie, William Prince, Leela Gilday, Mimi O’Bonsawin and more!
   • Visit ArtistAmbassador.ca for more artists to include in your music rotation.
5. Study an Indigenous language—especially one that is spoken in your region.
   • Learn some common words and why it’s important to appreciate and protect Indigenous languages.
6. Continue your learning journey by visiting DWF’s list of compiled resources.

Schools

1. Participate in the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund’s Spring Poster Contest.
   • Register to become a Legacy School to be notified when the contest opens.
2. Participate in Secret Path Week’s Indigenous Educator Series with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants by visiting www.exploringbytheseat.com/event/secret-path-week.
3. Start a club or extracurricular activity to empower Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and staff to get involved outside of the classroom and lead in the journey of reconciliation.
   • It could be a student-led Reconciliation Club or Indigenous Leadership Club that helps empower students to participate and inspire others to take action.
4. Bring Indigenous leaders and community members into your classroom to teach your students about their experiences and their areas of expertise.

Workplaces

1. Offer a gift card or discount to patrons who can show proof of a donation to DWF.
2. Invite Indigenous representatives into your workplace to share their experiences and areas of expertise with your staff.
3. Host a lunchtime trivia competition with a donation from each participating team.
4. Establish clear policies and guidelines to ensure your company has a strategy for recruiting Indigenous Peoples.
   • Learn more about the Legacy Spaces program and how DWF can support your company’s reconciliation journey by visiting LegacySpaces.ca.

Everyday ReconciliACTIONs: