A Y e a r i n R e v i e w 2019- 2020 Report on Devon's Indigenous Engagement Initiatives

PREPARED BY: Mitch Wincentaylo SUMMARY A quick rewind of early 2019... • The Indigenous engagement and awareness initiatives have been running for exactly one year and eight months • Between May-December 2019, Devon has facilitated and participated in seventeen events and workshops including:

- Walk for Common - Reflections from the Ground Sixties Scoop

- Michif Cultural - Bi-Giwen SSISA exhibit Connections -maskêkosihk - Smudge Workshop kehtayayk and kiskîno- - Talks Movie and Tobacco Ties matowâkamik open Night house and christmas - Indigenous Soap Crafts party/concert - Beading with Jo - Orange Shirt Day - maskêkosihk pow- - Engagement session wow 2020 A response to COVID and virtual delivery... As we all know, COVID brought us many challenges in 2020

• At the time of the first lockdown, we were facilitating nehiyawewin classes at the public library. • We successfully transitioned the full class onto Zoom and completed the program on schedule! • Our first language class was a huge success, with over 30 participants registering and attending the course. 2020 A response to COVID and virtual delivery... Throughout 2020, we also successfully hosted various events online through Zoom:

Residents for Virtual mini-drum Reconciliation virtual workshop + take- speaker presentations home activity kit Virtual healing circles in senipan-kiskasakay, partnership with the Devon a virtual ribbon-skirt FCSS and Michel First Nation workshop series

Virtual drag show and make-up tutorial with the Virtual movie nights, Two-Spirit Society including Treaty Walk: A Journey for Common Ground Cree culture and language and Between the Shades classes 2020 A response to COVID and virtual delivery...

And in-person events (when safe to do so)...

Elder Philip Campiou’s Pow-wow and Tipi-Talks jigging performances

Residents for Reconciliation Talking circles with presentations Melissa Calliou

Orange Shirt Day Cree culture presentations 2020 A look back at some special moments...

Through all the difficulties of the year, there were many positive moments in Devon.

In 2020, the first Pipe Ceremony in years was held at the community center in early March. • Elder Jesse Morin performed the ceremony, which included many Indigenous and non- indigenous residents of Devon (many attending ceremony for their first time) The orange shirt day staff and community event was very well recieved by many community members and Nations.

• Residents expressed their pride in being a Devonian and many positive comments were left on social media. • The film screening of we were children was offered to staff and residents, with a sharing circle afterwards.

• This event allowed everyone to better understand the atrocities and legacy of the Indian Residential School System in . Staff were offered a tour of maskêkosak (Enoch Cree Nation). • While following all provincial and Nation COVID guidelines, Tanya Cardinal toured Devon staff around the Nation. • History of Enoch was presented, and staff were able to see the new Enoch school, band office, pow-wow grounds and a few other select buildings. Even through COVID, we were still able to gather outside at Voyageur Park for Mellissa Calliou's Talking Circles

• Various topics were covered, including culture, the creation story and traditional knowledge! Devon was also chosen as a filming location for an upcoming film that will be shown at Park for its cultural programming • Chief Eric Shirt, Dr. Patricia Makokis and Dr. James Makokis of were on-location at Voyageur Park In late September, Devon organized a small pow-wow and jigging event at Voyageur Park.

• This gathering was extremely successful and well attended! • Dancers travelled from all over to come dance at this small gathering. We even had Devon residents dance as well! • O'Chiese First Nation, Maskwacis-Pigeon Lake, Saddle Lake Cree Nation, and Enoch Cree Nation were just some of the Nations people travelled from

Devon residents Jasmine Fouillard and sons along with Josh and Sharon Morin of MCC in St. Albert We also worked with the Devon Nature Club and maskêkosihk Nation members to host a Pipe Ceremony for Battery Creek • This was an opportunity for members to learn about ceremony, protocols and the connection to the land 2020 Consultation and Site Visits Consultation with over the new ball diamond development took place earlier this year.

• This was a welcomed highly regarded invitation by all Nations involved. • By consulting with the Nations, Devon once again showed its leadership and intent of strengthening the Treaty Relationship with First Nations. • Nations part of the consultation process include Louis Bull, Ermineskin, Samson, Montana and Enoch Cree Nations. • This is because of Devon being located within the traditional territories of Bobtail and maskêkosihk Nations. 2020 Consultation and Site Visits

• Site visits were conducted throughout July and August with Elders and Consultation Officers. • Many medicinal plants were identified (due to the area being in a wetland). • Devon will continue working with the Nations to transplant any medicines prior to development 2020 Meetings and the new- n o r m a l

Of course, with many organizations being closed and working from home, this meant online only meetings or conference calls.... • Really, once everyone got used to the new virtual platforms and restrictions eased, many meetings continued some-what normally.

• Meetings continued regularly with First Nations, Métis and other Indigenous-based organizations and communities.

Meeting at the maskêkosak band office with Tanya Cardinal 2020 Treaty Six and Métis Nation Flag Raising On June 19, 2020 we proudly raised the Treaty Six and Métis Nation Flags in front of the Town office • With help through our friends at the Confederacy of Treaty Six office and the MNA, we had many leaders at the ceremony.

Attendees included: • Grand Chief of Treaty Six Billy Morin • Chief Leonard Standing-on-the-Road of • Chief Irvin Bull of • Chief Craig Makinaw of • Chief Kurt Burnstick of • President Tracy Friedel of the MNA Region Four • Vice-president Gary Gagnon of the MNA Region Four

Because this was a small, informal ceremony, we are planning for a formal flag raising ceremony in the new year when it is safe to do so. This was truly an historical day in Devon! 2020 senipan - kiskasakay Throughout November, Devon, in partnership with Kree Seams, offered free, virtual ribbon-skirt workshops on Zoom • Krystal Potts of , () reached out to us earlier in the year to ask about this opportunity • The series of eight workshops were completely free for participants • We ended up having close to 60 participants, six of whom were from New Mexico and Arizona! Participants came from all over including: • Devon • Edmonton-area • Saskatchewan • Northern • Yukon • Maskwacis • Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico • Chiminey Butte, Arizona (Navajo Nation) 2020 Indigenous Engagement Survey Throughout September and October, we ran an online survey to record feedback of Devon's Indigenous Engagement initiatives thus far.

• 92% of respondants were • 76% of respondants believe Devon residents. it is important for Devon to continue strengthening • 53% were Caucasian, 19% these relationships with Métis, and 7% First Nations. Indigenous Peoples. • 88% of people were aware • We had a total of 26 people of the Indigenous answer the survey. Engagement initiatives.

• 34% of respondants were between the ages of 45-54, 26% between ages 35-44; • 25-34 and 55-64 were both at 15%, and 7% made up the 65+ age range. Q: Do you believe it is important for Devon to continue strengthening its relationship with Indigenous Peoples? If yes, please explain. "Yes, to reduce racism, make the community stronger, welcome any and all people" "We have done a poor job acknowledging what we've done in rthe past as white "settlers" and positively supporting the current indigenous people of treaty six".

"Devon sits on Territory. Racism has run rampant for decades in Alberta & throughout Canada. Indigenous peoples are the most displaced people in Canada & this is where we have lived since the dawn of time. We were not born addicted to drugs or alcohol...yet we are the most marginalized individuals in Canada...through the atrocities of the Indian Act, the Residential Schools, the 60s Scoop & Murdered & Missing Women & Girls, forced sterilization...we have been through hell & back & yet we are still here. Acts of genocide have happened & Canada needs to learn the true history of darkest chapters. Canada & Devon (which I applaud for the hard work & effort) must educate & inform their residents the TRUE history of the Indigenous peoples in Canada." "It helps build awareness of the past and create a better future for generations to come. It strengthens our community and First Nations communities when we support each other."

"To bring more awareness about racism, to foster acceptance and relationship, and to encourage anti racism."

"Considering this land was originally theirs and it was stolen from them via colonialism and insincere the least we can do is educate ourselves as much as possible about their culture and history, while also allowing their experiences to be heard in as many ways as possible."

"This improves our understanding of many basic values. It is time we work closely with the indigenous people. We need to incorporate more of their values and input into our planning processes." General Feedback

"I am grateful to see the town of Devon engaged in this important work. Maarsii." "Mitch is doing an excellent job he is very sensitive and effective we need to keep him working with our communities." "I’ve only recently moved to this town, but I have definitely noticed you taking the initiative more than any other area i've visited in AB so far." "The programs are positive and should continue."

"Any time I attended events or interacted with Enoch residents it was a very positive experience."

"I love being a Devonian ❤ & more importantly I love being a First Nations woman." 2020 Indigenous Engagement Action Plan Items from the 2020 Action Plan have been completed almost entirely and on-schedule.

• Due to COVID, some items were more difficult to focus on or complete, such as collaboration with local schools, although this has still been completed, with much outreach being done with Devon schools.

• All items have been fully or nearly completed to date. Its important to note that many of these items will continue in the future, as they are focused on long term relationship-building.

• On the next slide is a quick glance at how we did with the action plan items... 2020 Indigenous Engagement Action Plan Partnership 2020 Indigenous Engagement Action Plan Leadership 2020 Indigenous Engagement Action Plan Development 2020 Indigenous Engagement Action Plan Communications THANK - YOU!