September 30 – National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
The Government of Canada recently passed legislation to make September 30 a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is an important step in the reconciliation process. It provides an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and to honour their survivors, their families and communities.
Virtual Conference Session: A Journey of Understanding
Volunteer BC & BCACG will be hosting a Virtual Conference October 28 & 29 to explore this important topic of Truth & Reconciliation and other practical sessions to help organizations navigate the challenging landscape during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
We spoke to Mary Catherine Williams, Executive Director, Volunteer Campbell River and Volunteer BC Board Member about her session on Reconciliation and what she hopes to achieve in supporting nonprofit organizations.
What’s the focus of your session at the Volunteer BC & BCACG Conference?
My session – A Journey of Understanding: Steps on the Path Of Reconciliation For Non-Profits will explore ideas and actions that staff and volunteers in nonprofits can consider as we respond to the Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We are all on a journey of learning, understanding, grieving, and growing. Reconciliation and healing is complicated but there is a way to move forward, one foot in front of the other, one hand reaching out to another. Many non-Indigenous Canadians are trying to figure out how they can support, act, change. I will discuss the importance of staying local, developing authentic relationships, and taking time, as we build understanding and develop practices and policies that can lead to respectful and healthy relationships.
Why is this conference session so important?
The importance of this topic is many-fold. For me, this is a personal journey, to increase my understanding, knowledge and compassion about Canada’s history vis-a-vis Indigenous Peoples, the historical and on-going impact this has, and how I can contribute to healing and reconciliation in a meaningful, heart-centred way. The TRC Calls to Action encourages us to look at our organizational policies and practices and make changes so that Indigenous People are truly welcomed, respected and included.
Who have you partnered with on this journey?
During the past two years, I have been working with colleagues in my own community, as well as members of Volunteer Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Working Group, to consider how we can move forward. Together we are exploring what we can learn and what steps to take towards building healthy and respectful relationships with Indigenous People, organizations, and nations.
What advice do you have for nonprofit organizations?
It’s important to ground ourselves in knowledge and experiences. There are many great resources for learning and training to explore such as online courses, experiential workshops and books, movies etc. Organizations can make connections and build relationships with Indigenous people and organizations in our own community which will help us build knowledge and understanding. Reading the Truth and Reconciliation and Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls final reports can also help us understand more about the history and impact of residential schools and colonization. Once organizations have more knowledge and understanding, they can look at how to structure organizational policies and practices and begin to make changes to reduce discrimination and bias.
Do you have examples of what organizations have done?
Some organizations have started to provide cultural knowledge and sensitivity training to all staff, and others are exploring the purpose and possibility of including land and territory acknowledgement as part of their respect and responsibility to the people of the land. Next steps might also include making an effort to recruit and support Indigenous employees and doing business with Indigenous businesses and organizations. Deloitte Canada has developed a comprehensive Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and includes sample goals/actions that will help achieve desired outcomes. Legal Services Society of BC has a reconciliation plan to guide their organization.
What do you hope to accomplish and what are the takeaways for the conference attendees?
Our journey of reconciliation is going to be long and complex. There is no one “right path” and each of us needs to decide how to move forward. My session will consider different perspectives of what reconciliation means, look at tangible actions, and explore how to make it possible. I hope that this workshop will invite attendees to decide on their next steps in the journey of reconciliation.
You can learn more about Mary Catherine Williams’ workshop and other sessions here.
Get your tickets to the VIRTUAL Volunteer BC & BCACG CONFERENCE – October 28 & 29, 2021. Event for nonprofits, charities & volunteers – everyone welcome!
Lorelynn Hart is the Program Director at Volunteer BC, an organization working to raise the profile of volunteering, encourage investment in volunteer engagement and link the network of volunteer centres. Volunteer BC is the voice of volunteerism with the goal of promoting the value of volunteerism and building healthy BC Communities.
