Our Truth and Reconciliation approach
As an immigrant serving agency, it is our responsibility to honour the original peoples of this land and to increase newcomers’ knowledge of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, their history, diversity and contemporary reality. This also means examining our own internal knowledge, biases, systems, and policies.
We recognize we have a lot to learn, and we will continue to seek guidance and learn from knowledge keepers, truth tellers and advisors, including our Indigenous Advisor, Kory Wilson (@Korywilson). We know that together we are stronger and that we can improve cultural understanding through education and openness.
We are committed to a multi-year Truth and Reconciliation journey with specific processes and activities to educate newcomers. We will be implementing innovative approaches to teach our staff, clients and supporters about the about Indigenous Peoples and their contributions in stewarding these unceded lands since time immemorial. This work includes:
- An on-site Truth and Reconciliation office pilot staffed by Indigenous People;
- A pre-arrival pilot program in India and Lebanon that teaches newcomers about Indigenous Peoples before they arrive in Canada;
- Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) curricula on Truth and Reconciliation.
Our Welcome to our Homelands video and study guide (created by an Indigenous film maker and writer, Kamala Todd) highlights key messages of welcoming from Indigenous representatives from across Turtle Island and is currently available in 17 different languages including Español, فارسی, عربي, 中国人, 한국인 and ਪੰਜਾਬੀ.
You can learn more about Indigenous history and culture here.