Climbing the Mountain: Reconciliation in Workplaces Participant Guidebook, 2021 1 “Achieving reconciliation is like climbing a mountain — we must proceed a step at a time. It will not always be easy. There will be storms, there will be obstacles, but we cannot allow ourselves to be daunted by the task because our goal is just and it also necessary.” — Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada made 94 Calls to Action, and this is No. 92, as it applies to business and reconciliation: Business and Reconciliation 92. We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following: i. Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects. ii. Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects. iii. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... 4 Message from Justice Murray Sinclair ................................................................................ 5 About Indspire .................................................................................................................... 6 Workshop Objectives .......................................................................................................... 7 Notes on This Manual ......................................................................................................... 8 Talking About Indigenous Issues and Residential Schools .............................................. 8 Inviting Indigenous Elders and Residential School Survivors to Speak ......................... 11 Accompanying Resources ............................................................................................. 13 Workshop Schedule: Four-Hour Version .......................................................................... 14 Optional: Two-Hour Version ......................................................................................... 14 Climbing the Mountain: An Introduction ....................................................................... 15 A Brief History of Indigenous Peoples and Canada ....................................................... 19 Indigenous Foundations ................................................................................................ 20 Struggles Over the Land ................................................................................................ 21 Treaties and the Formation of Canada ......................................................................... 23 The Residential School System ..................................................................................... 26 Resistance and the Rise of the TRC ............................................................................... 30 Into Reconciliation ........................................................................................................ 32 A Brief Chronology of Indigenous Peoples and Canada ............................................... 36 Turn and Talk: Our History ........................................................................................ 45 Reconciliation .................................................................................................................... 46 What Is Reconciliation? ................................................................................................ 48 The TRC 94 Calls to Action ........................................................................................ 51 The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples .................... 67 Committing Your Workplace to Reconciliation .............................................................. 80 Climbing the Mountain ................................................................................................. 81 Committing to Reconciliation ....................................................................................... 82 Working with Indigenous Peoples and Communities ............................................... 82 Creating a Workplace of Reconciliation ........................................................................ 87 Turn and Talk: Enacting Reconciliation ..................................................................... 89 Further Resources on Indigenous Histories and Residential Schools ............................... 90 3 Acknowledgments Indspire would like to thank Dr. Niigaan Sinclair and his writing team for their dedication and hard work that went into the making of this manual. We would also like to thank all residential school Survivors and their families for their continued dedication to reconciliation, as well as all participants for their partnership and assistance in the ongoing creation of this workshop. 4 Message from Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Reconciliation is like climbing a mountain — we must proceed a step at a time. Climbing the Mountain: Reconciliation in Workplaces enables and empowers leaders in private and public industries to address one of the most important issues of our time, while creating workplaces that can help create a future Canada we can all be proud of. These activities and educational materials embody the Calls to Action I and my fellow commissioners envisioned during the scope of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission — specifically Call to Action #92 — and is an exceptional way to train and retain employees and produce healthy relationships with Indigenous communities, breaking new and important ground, while reminding us that change comes from courage, strength and innovation in this work. I hope all workplaces in Canada enjoy and partake in these innovative, exciting and experiential ideas and initiatives. Miigwech (thanks) to Indspire and the writing team for such an incredible accomplishment. Sincerely, The Honourable Murray Sinclair, LLB, IPC Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 5 About Indspire Indspire is an Indigenous national registered charity that invests in the education of Indigenous peoples for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. Our vision is to enrich Canada through Indigenous education by inspiring achievement. In partnership with Indigenous, private and public sector stakeholders, Indspire educates, connects and invests in Indigenous peoples, so they will achieve their highest potential. Indspire serves First Nations, Inuit and Métis students in remote communities and urban centres across Canada. With the support of our funding partners, we disburse financial awards, deliver programs and share resources with the goal of closing the gap in Indigenous education. Each year, Indspire awards millions of dollars through scholarships, bursaries, and awards to Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education opportunities across Canada. Indspire also presents the Indspire Awards, a nationally broadcast celebration of the successes achieved by Indigenous peoples. Visit our website, indspire.ca, for more information. Contact us with general inquiries at 1-855-INDSPIRE (1-855-463-7747) or follow us on social media! @Indspire @indspire.ca @Indspire Indspire 6 Workshop Objectives • Address Call to Action No. 92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. • Encourage meaningful and purposeful dialogue and decisions regarding truth and reconciliation in workplaces. • Empower individual, professional and community awareness and workplace sensitivity regarding Indigenous peoples in Canada and competency of traditional Indigenous cultures worldviews, spiritualities and histories. • Provide pertinent knowledge regarding the contemporary situation of Indigenous peoples in Canada and uncover some “best practices” when incorporating Indigenous peoples and content in workplaces. • Recognize the impacts of colonization on all Canadians, specifically through the lens of policies such as the residential school system, discriminatory laws and policies, and the banning of culture, language and ceremonies, and the Indian Act. • Work toward respectful and meaningful relationships with both non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples. • Inform and promote the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report to collectively advocate in the creation of healthy workplaces based in principles