Posts by Circles

In this first gathering we want to establish a climate of “mutual recognition and mutual respect” to use the words of the Truth and Reconciliation Report. No matter what your background and life experiences, we want to respect you, by listening to you and by recognizing the value of you as a person and what you have to bring to our gathering. It is important that we agree on this respect for one another at the outset. Our Circles give us a wonderful opportunity to meet one another, to get to know one another, to hear the stories of one…

Once reconciliation is on a business radar, business development decisions and community development decisions can also begin to be considered. On the business development side, those interested can being to think about how reconciliation can influence where to open new locations, how to market their business, their procurement policies, mutual development of their business and Indigenous businesses to grow market share, diversify products and service, strengthen reputations Companies that begin to think about reconciliation can reflect on community development decisions, specifically what groups or events to sponsor, how to minimize their impact on environment, how to strengthen communities where they…

 7. MYTH: Indigenous peoples cannot interface with, or adapt to, life in the mainstream.The Facts: Indigenous peoples have extensive and effective relationships with the rest of Canadian society.Indigenous peoples attend, and graduate from, a wide range of colleges and universities.There are over 40,000 businesses owned and operated by Indigenous people in Canada. There are 706 in Manitoba.“Indigenous businesses are estimated to have spent $6 billion in 2016. This spending contributed $1.1 billion to Manitoba’s GDP” (p.31)Indigenous businesses form joint ventures (and other business arrangements) with non-Indigenous businesses.The Indigenous economy is the second largest component of the major industries in Manitoba◦…

Various First Nations communities across Turtle Island (North America) had and continue to have existing traditions and laws that govern land rights and what would be considered “human rights” in European law. Knowledge of these ceremonies and agreements are passed on through several generations, so records of these laws are used today in First Nations communities through oral histories. They date back to times before the earliest contact with Europeans.It is important to remember that Indigenous nations view land differently from European philosophies. Those beliefs of private property and land ownership did not translate well into Indigenous languages or worldviews.…

Allyship "begins when a person of privilege seeks to support a marginalized individual or group." Allyship requires a commitment to unlearning and learning about privilege, power and oppression and involves a "life-long process of building relationships based on trust, consistency and accountability with marginalized individuals or group." Allyship is hard. Ally is a verb that requires action.  Allyship is not an identity, nor is it a performance. Allyship is a practice. Allyship requires an ongoing commitment to working in solidarity with Indigenous peoples. Allies are not self-defined but are recognized and affirmed by Indigenous peoples.  To practice solidarity, non-Indigenous people…