Opening Guidelines for In Person Circles – Circles for Reconciliation

To non-Indigenous participants, reflect on the statement of Chief Commissioner Murray Sinclair: “Do not feel ashamed of the past; do not feel guilty. They don’t do any good at all. Do something about it!”
It is very important that we all recognize that the feelings of an individual are neither right nor wrong. They are real and need to be respected.

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The Winnipeg administrative offices of Circles for Reconciliation are on Treaty 1 territory – the traditional land of the Ininiw (Cree), Anishinábé (Ojibwé), Anishiniw (Ojibwé Cree), Dakota and Dene people, as well as the Birthplace of the Métis Nation and the Heart of the Métis Homeland. Circles for Reconciliation is an Indigenous-led non-profit corporation, with at least 51 % of our Board of Directors being peoples of First Nation, Inuit, or Métis status. Circles for Reconciliation is a registered charity, registration no. 748256930 RR 0001.
Our Circles for Reconciliation team in Tkaronto are grateful to have the opportunity to meet and work on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. We also acknowledge that Tkaronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa band.
Artwork by Eugene Demas. Eugene was well featured in Calgary's Bow Museum and known for his use of pencil crayons.

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The Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe

These teachings form part of our openings for all Circles.

Circles for Reconciliation Inc. recognizes that all First Nations, Métis and Inuit people have their own cultural teachings that encompass the morals and values of conduct.On page 30 of “Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future.”, it states that The Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe—Respect, Courage, Love, Truth, Humility, Honesty, and Wisdom—served as the themes for the seven National Events, and ceremony and traditional observance played an important part in the National Events. It is recognized that there are many adaptions of the teachings. We encourage each circle to adapt the Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe to the needs of their circle.

View all the guidelines that we use to ensure respectful and consistent gatherings.

LOVE: it is more important to care for one another
HONESTY: better to fail with honesty than succeed by fraud
RESPECT: give it, earn it, receive it
TRUTH: it is always easiest to speak the truth
HUMILITY: to be humble about your accomplishments is to be strong
COURAGE: let nothing stand in the way of doing the right thing
WISDOM: with hard work and dedication will come knowledge