Truth and Reconciliation in Our City
I bike through the familiar streets of the downtown core, where I’ve spent years volunteering and working in the urban wellness space. My heart is heavy with the news of the Kamloops mass grave of 215 children that was uncovered a couple of weeks ago.
We are at a critical moment in our country about how we see, treat, interact, and connect with each other. And this has a direct impact on our cities, communities, and neighbourhoods.
The truth about what went down in Kamloops has triggered a formal request by a dozen Canadian lawyers for the International Criminal Court to investigate the legacy of residential schools as crimes against humanity by the Government of Canada and the Vatican. According to records, at least 4,100 children (that we know of) died during their time at residential schools, with the one in Red Deer having one of the highest mortality rates in Alberta.
Whether we like it or not, this is part of our collective history as Canadians and we need to accept it.
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I keep pedaling, past camps hastily set up on the sidewalk, past people huddled on the street eating, smoking, chatting, or injecting, past agency workers warmly greeting those pushing their shopping carts on the way to Bissell or Hope Mission. The majority of these folks living rough are Indigenous, and Indigenous people are 8 times more likely to experience houselessness than non-Indigenous Canadians.
But they are human beings with dreams, hopes, and fears just like everyone else and I had the pleasure of getting to know many of them and follow some of their journeys during my time at the City.
Knowing about some of these folks’ stories is not enough. As I revisit the 94 Calls to Action that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission put out SIX YEARS AGO, I realize we’ve accomplished very little. To be exact, we achieved 8 out of 94 calls to actions between their release and 2019, with very little progress in 2020.
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I cycle past Kinistinâw Park, where just weeks ago 3 Indigenous men - Jason, Mike, and Clifford - died suddenly from overdoses by tainted drugs. Communities of diverse backgrounds came together in various ceremonies to grieve and mourn.
I eventually find myself in front of the memorial at the Alberta Legislature grounds, placing a pair of my daughter's shoes next to many, many other tiny feet. I said a little prayer, but my heart felt heavy. Thinking about my own child who has a home and family - so many children throughout history have never found peace, and never returned to their families and communities.
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I have worked with many different Indigenous communities throughout my professional life right out of university. My journey has taken me from:
The land of enchantment teaching middle school science on the Navajo Nation; to
The hustle and bustle of downtown Montreal working with urban Indigenous youth, many of whom were from Inuit communities up North; to
Far past the 60th parallel where I learned about the importance of land in wellbeing with the Yellowknife Dene First Nation community; to
Treaty 6 territory working with the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women to support leadership development for girls and young women; and to
Kjipuktuk-Halifax working with and learning from the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre who is building connected communities that center on reconciliation and are inclusive of all during a pandemic.
Everywhere I went, I saw the shared historic trauma of colonialism, whether that’s Indian Affair schools, residential schools, or disputed land claims. But what I also saw in the same breath are all the ways communities, people, and Nations are coming together to determine their own wellbeing, livelihood, and decisions.
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Finally, I stop on Saskatchewan Drive overlooking the city and the river. It's beautiful and serene.
In a city with the second largest urban Indigenous population in Canada, there is still a lot we can do to honour and advance Truth and Reconciliation.
Over and over again, I’ve heard that Indigenous peoples need to see themselves reflected in the city and communities that sit on the land that they come from. Projects at the City including Kihciy askiy Sacred Earth healing and ceremonial ground, and the Indigenous Culture and Wellness Centre need to fully become reality. Not to mention many other placemaking and placekeeping opportunities in our communities through naming and public art to celebrate Indigenous excellence.
City Council could benefit from the wisdom and guidance of an Indigenous Leadership and Elders Counsel to support, deliberate, and guide the decisions not only directly impacting Indigenous relations, such as name changes, but also broader strategic decisions that affect ALL Edmontonians. This blended model with both Elders and Indigenous leaders would be unique in the country and would regularly dialogue with the City Council to provide direction to decisions that affect urban Indigenous issues.
Movements such as community and cultural land trusts (like this project), and urban reserves - that have precedence elsewhere in the country - deserve greater attention and continued conversation including the current one with Enoch Cree First Nation. In some cases, they serve as key economic hotzones that make it easier for businesses to establish and flourish and benefit the wider community.
City staff can continue to build and expand relationships and networks to ensure Indigenous voices and those of other diverse communities are ALWAYS included as part of civic conversations and decisions.
We ALL have a responsibility to uphold our role in truth and reconciliation, not only during Indigenous People's Month, but always. So reflect, support, learn, and reach out. Start by taking a moment to learn about the ward name change and the significance of this ward - Karhiio.
