
#SettlersTakeAction
Content Last Updated: 2022|10|16 14:29
"Non-Indigenous folk who live in Canada benefit from the colonialism that happened here.We all have a part to play in Truth & Reconciliation, and since our government isn't stepping up, then we, the people, must."
- On Canada Project
Learn
Identify the people and visit their website(s), if they have any.
"Do not ask Indigenous people, and especially those directly impacted by tragedy, to be your teachers on this subject. Do your own research: find resources that are already public, ask your local librarian." - IndigiNews
Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action.
Read and act on the 94 Calls To Action: CBC's TRC Progress Meter
Read and familiarize yourself with the following reports:
Tell your local representatives you care about the rights and reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples of your region.
Ask them what they are currently doing to further those goals.
Hold them accountable; follow up to ensure those goals are being met.
Some specific actions to follow up on:
Ask for the perpetrators of crimes against Indigenous children to be held accountable for their actions.
Demand a comprehensive search for unmarked graves at all residential school sites, as per the TRC’s call to action #75.
Demand that residential schools be protected and funded as heritage memorial sites.
Ask for place names, such as schools and public parks, to be renamed if they bear the name of individuals involved with residential schools.
Demand action to end ongoing colonial violence against Indigenous children, which leaves them subject to disproportional abuse, violence, sickness and death.
Demand action on the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth involved in the child-welfare system.
Demand that lands owned by the church be returned to Indigenous Peoples.
Engage in conversations around land repatriation and restitution.
Support, interact with, and buy from local and national indigenous-owned businesses.
From @lisa.beading: "Email your local service providers (clinics, dentists, optometrists, city hall, etc.) and check to ensure they have Indigenous cultural competency training. Make your neighbourhood safer for the Indigenous folks who live there."
Further your education with local and online courses.
UoA's Indigenous Canada is a free online course from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.
News & Books
Warning
The titles of many of the articles listed below may be triggering to Indigenous peoples and those who have survived abuse. Please proceed with caution. Support help lines can be found in the footer of all pages on this site for those who need them.
LAND BACK! What do we mean? (4Rs Youth Movement)
Doctor who blew whistle on atrocities of residential schools honoured in Ottawa (CBC News, September 2022)
Mandryk: Residential school denial has become our shameful tragedy (Regina Leader-Post, April 2022)
Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw fishery symbolic of fight for Indigenous self-governance (CTV News Atlantic, September 2021)
Survivor offers advice on how to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (CTV News, September 2021)
Thousands of Kids Died in Residential Schools, Now They're Being Found (video) (Vice News, September 2021)
The boy behind the cruel nickname (CBC, September 2021)
Why it's difficult to put a number on how many children died at residential schools (CBC, September 2021)
Canada's indifference to the deaths of seven First Nations teenagers is 'just plain racism': Tanya Talaga (CBC, September 2021)
mela: shine a light. how working in colonial “reconciliation” has left me with so much to reconcile: (Lisa Walker, August 2021)
Sipekne'katik Chief Mike Sack arrested, traps seized as treaty fishery begins its season in N.S. (CBC, August 2021)
No Reconciliation without Truth: A Reflection on Canada Day (Tangible Words, July 2021)
‘Our justice system failed again today’: Family of Kristian Ayoungman disappointed with verdict (APTN News, July 2021)
Murdered by “Bad Luck”: Indigenous Life and Death in Canada (Yellowhead Institute, July 2021)
Millions meant for residential school survivors spent on Catholic Church lawyers, administration: documents (CBC, July 2021)
Q&A: What do the old-growth logging deferrals mean for Fairy Creek? (IndigiNews, June 2021)
Screaming into silence (Maclean's, June 2021)
What I told my child about the Kamloops graves—to honour the 215 (Maclean's, June 2021)
Beyond Red Dress Day: Seven calls to action for allies (IndigiNews, May 2021)
Why Indigenous youth are raising awareness of MMIWG with every stitch of a ribbon skirt (CBC, May 2021)
Standoff at 1492 Land Back Lane (The Walrus, February 2021)
As standoff at ‘1492 Land Back Lane’ heats up in Caledonia, land defenders say, ‘This is a moment for our people to say no’ (Toronto Star, October 2020)
Canada Asked For A Report On Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women And Girls. Now It's Ignoring It. (Chatelaine, May 2020)
Canadians have been breaking their promises to Indigenous people (video) (CBC, February 2020)
How to transfer your land to Indigenous peoples (TVO, June 2018)
Canada's cultural genocide of Indigenous Peoples (video) (CBC, March 2018)
The horrors of St. Anne's (CBC, March 2018)
Wondering how to get involved in reconciliation? Start by asking yourself these 5 questions (CBC, October 2017)
Canada's Indigenous water crisis (VICE, August 2017)
150 Acts of Reconciliation for the Last 150 Days of Canada’s 150 (Active History, August 2017)
Should non-Indigenous Canadians learn Indigenous languages? (CBC, March 2017)
Chanie’s Life Journey (Map) (ArcGIS, 2016)
The lonely death of Chanie Wenjack (Maclean's, February 1967)
Donate & Support
Donate to any language revitalization, cultural, and land-based programs of the Indigenous peoples in your region.
4Rs Youth Movement: The 4Rs Youth Movement is a youth-driven initiative that was launched to change the country by changing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people.
Arctic Eider Society (ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒥᑎᓕᒻᒥᐅ): The Arctic Eider Society, a registered Canadian charity based in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, works with communities across Hudson Bay and Inuit Nunangat, delivering programs that build capacity and self-determination.
Arctic Youth Development Agency: AYDA is an Indigenous-led nonprofit dedicated to building next generation leaders through holistic development for a better and stronger north.
Assembly of Seven Generations: Assembly of Seven Generations (A7G) is an Indigenous owned and youth-led, non-profit organization focused on cultural support and empowerment programs/policies for Indigenous youth while being led by traditional knowledge and Elder guidance.
Canadian Roots Exchange: CRE builds bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in Canada by facilitating dialogue and strengthening relationships through leadership programs.
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources: Established as a national First Nation directed environmental non-profit charitable organization in 1995, CIER's mission is to work in partnership with Indigenous nations to support and build sustainable Indigenous communities and protect lands and waters.
Circles For Reconciliation: The aim of Circles For Reconciliation is to establish trusting, meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples as part of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society: The Caring Society stands with First Nations children, youth and families so they have equitable opportunities to grow up safely at home, be healthy, get a good education and be proud of who they are.
your local Friendship Centre: Across the country, Friendship Centres provide culturally appropriate services for Indigenous people living in urban centres and have become a place for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together, to share traditions and to learn from one another.
Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund: Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Haida Gwaii Stewardship Fund: With direction from Haida citizens, the Council of the Haida Nation has created a Stewardship Fund. This is a voluntary fund to support Air, Ocean, Land and People stewardship as it relates to tourism.
imagineNATIVE: imagineNATIVE (The Centre for Aboriginal Media) is a registered charity committed to creating a greater understanding of Indigenous peoples and cultures through the presentation of contemporary Indigenous-made media art including film, video, audio, and digital media.
Indian Residential School Survivors Society: A provincial organization with a 20-year history of providing services to Indian Residential School survivors.
Indigenous charity causes: CanadaHelps empowers charities to easily fundraise online.
IndigiNews: IndigiNews was created through a partnership between Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and The Discourse. The goal of this partnership is two-fold: first, to provide journalism that serves and is driven by what local communities say they want. Second, to experiment with new business models for digital local news that contribute to the long-term sustainability of independent Indigenous news in Canada.
Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Fund: This Fund includes more than 40 Indigenous-led charities from across Canada whose focus ranges from social services to arts and culture.
Indspire: A national Indigenous registered charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami: The National Representational Organization protecting and advancing the rights and interests of Inuit in Canada.
the KAIROS Blanket Exercise Program: Created in 1997 by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC), a precursor to KAIROS, the KBE was intended to introduce Canadians to the major themes and findings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP). ARC brought together Indigenous Elders and educators with allies who wanted to make sure that RCAP and its recommendations were not shelved and forgotten.
Ku'ku'kwes News: Kukukwes.com is a news website dedicated to covering Indigenous news in Atlantic Canada.
KUU-US Crisis Line Society: The KUU-US Crisis Line Society is a non-profit registered charity that provides 24 hour crisis services through education, prevention and intervention programs.
KAS (Kwi Awt Stelmexw): Kwi Awt Stelmexw is a not-for-profit organization that provides support for the revitalization of the Squamish Language through arts & education programs, services, and products.
Kw’umut Lelum Foundation: The Kw’umut Lelum Foundation collaborates with a vibrant community of private and public donors to expand cultural, economic, social, educational and recreational access in support of Indigenous children and their families.
Legacy Of Hope Foundation: The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada.
Lil’ Red Dress Project: The Lil’ Red Dress Project's goal is to raise money for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls signage and to help bring awareness to broader community.
National Aboriginal Council of Midwives: The National Aboriginal Council of Midwives (NACM) exists to promote excellence in reproductive health care for Inuit, First Nations, and Métis women.
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) fosters and supports research on residential schools and their legacy and aims to promote new directions in research on Indigenous law and rights, Treaties, and government policy.
Native Women’s Association of Canada: The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a National Indigenous Organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada, inclusive of First Nations on and off reserve, status and non-status, disenfranchised, Métis and Inuit.
Native Youth Sexual Health Network: The Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) is an organization by and for Indigenous youth that works across issues of sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice throughout the United States and Canada.
Orange Shirt Day: Donations help Phyllis Webstad and the Orange Shirt Society raise awareness across Canada about the Indian Residential Schools and their continuing impacts on individuals, families and communities, and to promote the concept of "Every Child Matters".
Reconciliation Canada: Born from the vision of Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Gwawaenuk Elder, Reconciliation Canada is leading the way in engaging Canadians in dialogue and transformative experiences that revitalize the relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.
Tiny House Warriors: The Tiny House Warrior movement is the start of re-establishing village sites and asserting authority over unceded Territories.
True North Aid: True North Aid is dedicated to serving and supporting northern Indigenous communities in Canada through practical humanitarian support.
Unist’ot’en Camp: The Unist’ot’en Camp is an indigenous re-occupation of Wet’suwet’en land in northern “BC, Canada”. Year-round volunteer support is needed on the frontlines and beyond.
The Witness Blanket: The Witness Blanket stands as a national monument to recognise the atrocities of the Indian Residential School era, honour the children, and symbolise ongoing reconciliation.