Whose Settlement Agreement? Conference hosted at FNUC


WHOSE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
Learning from the 60s Scoop and Indian Residential Schools

Date: OCTOBER 10-11, 2019 (Pre-Conference Activities October 10)

Location: First Nations University of Canada

Keynote Speaker: Cindy Blackstock
Title: Is it genocide: A history of First Nations child welfare in Canada
Description: As we trace the history of First Nations child welfare in Canada, through residential schools and the Sixties Scoop, patterns begin to emerge in the conduct of the federal government. In working to move forward from these traumas, how can we ensure that the mistakes of the past do not persist and continue to harm future generations?

​Conference Registration:
http://whosesettlement.ca/registration.html

Conference Convenors: Dr. Cindy Hanson (Faculty of Education and Dr. Allyson Stevenson (Department of Politics and International Studies), University of Regina
Hosted by: First Nations University of Canada & University of Regina

Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology runs with Project of Heart

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Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology ran with Project of Heart — and their running partner was…. a class of elementary students at Lady Evelyn Alternative School in Ottawa! How did that happen?

SIIT is located on the Asimakaniseekan Askiy Reserve in Saskatoon and Kathleen Worm is their Manager in Workforce Development. Kathleen hosted Project of Heart for over 90 IRS Support Workers gathered in Saskatoon for a conference. What was unique about this Project of Heart workshop is the way in which the participants were supported in carrying out the social justice action.

Help came from a class of Grade 3 and 4 students in Ottawa who are part of their Shannen’s Dream Club. These students made 91 beautiful post-cards, all decorated to depict their vision of what reconciliation for First Nations children on reserves in Canada would look like. The backs of the post-cards are labelled with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s address. The Support Workers did the rest of the work – writing what they want the Prime Minister to do to address the inequities: namely, to implement the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s orders to fund First Nations children on and off reserve equitably to their non-Indigenous counterparts.

The POH workshop participants in Saskatoon were able to skype in to Ms. Fontaine’s class to thank the children for their solidarity with Indigenous children. They made a heart-felt connection with the 8, 9, and 10 year olds that partnered with them in their social justice action!

Here’s what Kathleen had to report about their Project of Heart experience with the kids:

Danielle Fontaine’s Grade 3 and 4 class in Ottawa ON learn about more than the abc’s of education; they learn the abc’s of Canada’s history and the abc’s of compassionate humanism.

Danielle has been incorporating First Nations issues in the classroom for over 6 years now and the result is nothing short of loving. Teaching compassion first, Danielle’s students then learn to empathize with the current peril of First Nations children across Canada.

Shannen’s Dream, a powerful show of advocacy by a young First Nation girl wanting a school for her community was one of the stories that the students learned of. In a show of support and activism, the 8, 9 and 10 year olds designed post cards with messages and images reflecting their mind and heart on the issue of First Nation children’s educational rights. These postcards are all addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Saskatchewan Resolution Health Support Workforce, the emotional and cultural supports offered to survivors going through their independent claims and hearings, gather twice a year for professional development. This past gathering in January had approximately 90 of the post cards designed by Ms Fontaine’s class. Using these postcards, messages were sent to the Prime Minister on many issues surrounding First Nations people.

To further strengthen the impact and the shared understanding, the RHSW Gathering skyped into the Grade 3 & 4 classroom in Ottawa. The excitement and joy was palpable. The opportunity to let those children see the impact of their own efforts and for the aging group of survivors to see hope for the future as young ones are taught the truth and are willing to fight for what’s right.

Thank you Kathleen and all the IRS Survivors who met their supporters for doing Project of Heart and sharing themselves with their young fans in Ottawa. The Government will continue to be challenged as long as Canada has youth who are passionate about fair play. Their message is clear.

Massive Turn-out for Day of Education for Reconciliation at the University of Regina

A wonderful story from yesterday’s Regina Leader-Post, with video featuring survivor Eugene Arcand and Charlene Bearhead from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Teaching about the Residential School Era is still not a mandatory part of the Saskatchewan K-12 curriculum but thanks to the events of the day, 1500 students and teachers went home having experienced a crash course on Canada’s hidden history. The Faculty of Education at the University of Regina organized the day’s events and Project of Heart was also on the program; students decorated tiles as witness pieces.

Our thanks go out to Dean of Education Jennifer Tupper for taking the lead in organization a superb Education Day!

(Repost from National Project of Heart site)

Youth Reconciliation Leadership Forum

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CANADIAN ROOTS EXCHANGE

March 5-7, 2015

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

A youth to youth interactive forum exploring how to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Canada. Hosted with Children of the Earth High School in Winnipeg, approximately 300 youth from across the country are anticipated to take part. The target age is for youth between the ages of 15 and 29.

For more information about registration, or presentation opportunities, go to http://canadianroots.ca/national-conference

2015 Woodrow Lloyd Lecture: Reconciliation

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Reconciliation: The Children’s Version

Presenter: Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Associate Professor, University of Alberta and Executive Director of First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

Wednesday, January 21, 2015
7:00 p.m. Education Building, Rm 106.1
University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK

There is a growing conversation about reconciliation in Canada and addressing contemporary inequalities and injustices facing First Nations children is a vital part of the conversation. Dr. Cindy Blackstock will examine how children and young people are working with First Nations to achieve equity and to uplift the country at the same time.

Refreshments follow the lecture. All are welcome.

For more information: http://www.uregina.ca/arts/public-lectures/lloyd-lecture.html