Following the papal visit to Canada in July, in alliance with the ECEBC and BCECPN we reflect on Cindy Blackstock’s statements on what it means to authentically engage in the process of truth and reconciliation. We invite Vancouver Reggio Association members to reflect and engage with Cindy Blackstock’s following calls to action as we stand with the survivors of residential schools, their families and communities and the multi-generational trauma caused by the residential school experience in Canada.

To view the post on Twitter click HERE.

To view a video click HERE.

~the directors of the Vancouver Reggio Association

The Vancouver Reggio Association stands with the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Nation as they grieve and honour the 215 children who died at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. The Vancouver Reggio Association centres our work on children, learning and political agency embodied in the principles of the early childhood educators of Reggio Emilia, Italy. As such, we call for continued mobilization and support for advocacy for the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and emerging initiatives from local Indigenous communities.

As shared by educator Jo Chrona, curriculum director at the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), some steps non-Indigenous educators can take involve the process of: read, listen, reflect, act – repeat. What can you do?

The following recommendations have been suggested by local Indigenous community members, scholars and educators.

To read:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, findings, recommendations and calls to action:
http://www.trc.ca/about-us/trc-findings.html

Every Child Matters by Monique Gray-Smith in collaboration with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation:
https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ECM_Digest_English_Digital_.pdf

FNESC Indian Residential School and Reconciliation Resources for K-12 Teachers
http://www.fnesc.ca/irsr/

Early Years Indigenous Cultural Safety Resource Guide published by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/child-care/ics_resource_guide.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1nOM0RI8iUZnqya2NdlOezExUxOBQEJInoJnFETh2tPczG4MHcPXkHeLQ

Blog post from Jo Chrona, curriculum director for First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC):
https://luudisk.com/2021/06/01/you-ask-what-you-can-do/

To listen/watch:
Video by Monique Gray-Smith about talking to children about Residential Schools:
https://www.moniquegraysmith.com/watch-listen

Video by The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=189562956275355

To donate:
Indian Residential School Survivors Society
https://www.irsss.ca/donate

Tk’emlups te Secwépemc is accepting donations that will automatically be deposited into a separate account set up for the initiative of reconciliation. The email is: donations@kib.ca. There are no other fundraising initiatives Tk’emlups has authorized or is participating in at this time.

To write:
Write a letter to your local Member of Parliament expressing your concerns and questions. If you are not sure who your local MP is, you can find this information and their mailing address here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en