Self-Guided Research
Learn about the Indian Act
(Source: Indigenous Foundations – Arts UBC)
Indigenous Foundations is an information resource that includes an introduction to the Indian Act among many other topics relating to the histories, politics and cultures of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Indigenous Foundations was developed by the First Nations Studies Program at the University of British Columbia.
This Land is Our (Title) Land
(Source: The Agenda with Steve Paikan)
In an interview from 2015, Arthur Manuel who has worked with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues since 2002, turns his attention to Indigenous land and the land claims process in Canada with his book “Unsettling Canada.”
Every Child Matters
(Source: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation)
Orange Shirt Day recognizes the damage done by the residential school system to the well-being of Indigenous children. The day is categorized as a healing journey for the survivors and a commitment by all who wear an orange shirt that “every child matters.” The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) educates Canadians on the injustices inflicted on First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation peoples by the forced removal of children to attend residential schools and the widespread abuse suffered in those schools.
Honouring the Truth, Reconciling the Future
(Source: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada)
Honouring the Truth, Reconciling the Future Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada summarizes findings and discussions contained in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) multi-volume final report. The report documents the history and impacts of the Canadian residential school system. The summary is intended for anyone interested in understanding the history and legacy of the residential school system and key actions for correcting harmful impacts and advancing reconciliation.
Guidelines for Working with Indigenous Elders
(Source: Len Pierre Consulting, Noah Chalifoux)
This resource provides an overview and important considerations for organizations interested in working with Elders. As with all aspects of cultural safety, humility and reconciliation, these guidelines should be applied relationally and with attention to the specific context of the nations and people you are working with.
The Catholic Church and the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement
(Source: UBC Indian Residential School History & Dialogue Centre)
The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre holds a collection of digital public records related to the Indian residential school system and other colonial policies imposed on Indigenous people in Canada. The Catholic Church and the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement collection has documents related to the 2015 court case decision, Fontaine v Saskatchewan (Attorney General), which released the Catholic Church from its obligations under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA).
Exploring Ethical Space: Land-based reconciliation in the Y2Y geography
(Source: Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative)
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative hosted the Ethical Space series of five workshops, which began in late 2020. The workshops covered a range of topics, including Indigenous authority, revitalizing Indigenous law, place-based stories, partnerships for caribou recovery, intractable conflict, strategic regional competition, and transformative approaches to land-based reconciliation.
Getting Ready: Ethical Space, Indigenous Authority, and Reconciliation with Gwen Bridge
(Source: Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative)
This is a video recording of the first Entering Ethical Space workshops, part of an online series on land-based reconciliation in the Kootenay-Columbia region of BC.
Transformative Territory Acknowledgement Guide
(Source: Len Pierre Consulting)
Len Pierre Consulting is a multidisciplinary team of consultants and facilitators who advise and train teams/organizations on Indigenous Cultural Safety, Reconciliation, Decolonization and Anti-Racism. The Transformative Territory Acknowledgement Guide explains the importance of land acknowledgments as essential in demonstrating the commitment to reconciliation. The guide instructs individuals on how to avoid “performative” or “superficial” land acknowledgements and avoid a performative pitfall.
(Source: The Right Relations Collaborative)
The Right Relations Collaborative works on evolving trust-based relationships in territories throughout what is colonially known as British Columbia.
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act
(Source: Bob Joseph)
21 Things You May Not Know about the Indian Act is a book written by Bob Joseph. The book serves as a guide to understanding the Indian Act and its repercussions on generations of Indigenous Peoples. The book dives into how Indigenous Peoples can step out from under the Indian Act and return to self-government, self-determination and self-reliance.
Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips and Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality
(Source: Bob Joseph)
Written by Bob Joseph, Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips and Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality is a guide on how to respectfully avoid missteps in business interactions and personal relationships with Indigenous Peoples. A few topics covered in the book include Aboriginal Rights and Title, the treaty process, Indigenous worldviews, cultural traditions and which terms are preferable, and which should be avoided.
Namwayut: Pathway to Reconciliation
(Source: Chief Robert Joseph)
Chief Dr. Robert Joseph is the Hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk people and one of the remaining first-language speakers of Kwak'wala. His book, Pathway to Reconciliation follows his childhood journey as a residential school survivor and the pathway to his present-day leadership journey bringing individual hope, collective change, and global transformation.
The Feast House
(Source: The Circle on Philanthropy)
The Feast House is an online platform where Indigenous-led groups and organizations that practice ethical stewardship come together. The groups and organizations are connected to communities and territories from across the country with a range of initiatives, such as education, youth movements, and water conservation.
(Sources: Ka Ni Kanichihk)
In 2019, the Montreal Indigenous Community Network launched the Indigenous Ally Toolkit, which was created to foster alliances and educate non-Indigenous people and groups on how they can use their privilege to listen, shift power dynamics, and take concrete steps towards ‘reconciliACTION.'
Training, Courses, & Indigenous Consulting Services
Working Effectively with Indigenous PeoplesⓇ
(Source: Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.)
Directed by Bob Joseph, Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples provides a safe training environment for learners to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitude required to be effective when working with Indigenous communities.
Gwen Bridge Consulting
(Source: Gwen Bridge)
Gwen Bridge Consulting provides Indigenous advisory services, speaking and presenting, project management, governance, strategic planning, negotiations and consultation.
Reconciliation Canada
(Source: Reconciliation Canada)
Reconciliation Canada engages Canadians in dialogue and transformative experiences that grow relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. Their model for reconciliation occurs through open and honest conversation to understand diverse histories and experiences. Reconciliation Canada delivers a series of Reconciliation Dialogue Workshops across Canada.
Indigenous Awareness
(Source: British Columbia Institute of Technology)
Indigenous Awareness is a course hosted by BCIT. Through the course, participants will learn about the historical relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada; past and contemporary realities of Indigenous people; and current moves towards, and the importance of, reconciliation to all Canadians. The course is intended for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people with the hope that it will increase the understanding of Indigenous people in Canada.
Indigenous Canada
(Source: Coursera)
Indigenous Canada is an Indigenous-led 12-lesson open online course by the Faculty of Native Studies. The course explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. The course also dives into experiences Indigenous peoples face today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.
(Source: IndigenEYEZ)
kinSHIFT is an Indigenous-led initiative supporting settlers to gain the knowledge and skills to cultivate respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and places. Their experiential, arts-based workshops allow participants to learn, practice, ask questions, and make mistakes in a safe environment, all while building a foundation for engaging meaningfully with Indigenous peoples.
(Source: Len Pierre Consulting)
The Len Pierre Consultation & Training Guide offers workshops and courses on a variety of topics including introduction to Indigenous Cultural Safety, Decolonizing Substance Use, Indigenous Cultural Advocacy and Allyship and more.
(Source: Mallory Rose - Indigenous Cultural Awareness)
Indigenous Cultural Awareness is an online platform where non-Indigenous people can learn and get closer to Indigenous culture. The platform offers learning opportunities on smudging, Indigenous sacred medicine, what and how to become an Indigenous ally and much more on Indigenous Canadian culture and traditions.
The Ripple Effect of Resiliency: An Indigenous Perspective
(Source: Monique Gray Smith)
The Ripple Effect of Resilience is a six-module course offered by Monique Gray Smith. The lessons focus on trauma, history, reconciliation and a cultural resilience model - The Four Blankets. Smith is Cree, Lakota and Scottish. She is an award-winning, best-selling author and consultant with over 30 years of experience.
Extending Bridges: Educating learners on Canadian history from an authentic and personal perspective (Source: Chastity Davis - Deyen)
Canadian History Through the Lens of Indigenous Women is a two-hour module course offered by Deyen, a learning hub which shares the knowledge, wisdom, worldviews and lived experiences of Indigenous women. Course participants learn about the shared history through the lens of Indigenous women and expand their worldview through the original Matriarchs of the lands often referred to as Canada.
(Planning Institute of British Columbia)
Indigenizing Planning explores the evolutionary commitments and journey which are needed in order to include Indigenous knowledge and traditions into the planning community of British Columbia.
The Reciprocity Trusts Society
The Reciprocity Trusts Society (Reciprocity Trusts) is a registered non-profit organisation dedicated to changing the culture of private property ownership on Indigenous lands. The role of Reciprocity Trusts is to establish and provide administrative and communications support for regional, Indigenous-led Reciprocity Trusts.
Action Truth and Reconciliation in your organization
(Source: Tanya T Consulting)
Tanya T Consulting is serviced by Tanya Tourangeau, which focuses on connecting partnerships and relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments and organizations. Tourangeau offers services such as education and knowledge sharing, advice, strategy and execution, monitoring and evaluation.
Indigenous Awareness Canada: The World Leader in Indigenous Awareness Training
(Source: Indigenous Awareness Canada)
Indigenous Awareness Canada offers online Indigenous awareness training and facilitates in-person workshops, including for employers across Canada. They want to help non-indigenous Canadians and Indigenous peoples move toward reconciliation.
Indigenomics Institute
(Source: Indigenomics Institute)
The Indigenomics Institute is an economic advisory for Indigenous nations, community economic development corporations, Indigenous businesses, governments and corporations and the private sector. Their services include economic policy development, community economic development corporation strategic design and development, business governance training and much more.
(Source: Centre for First Nations Governance)
The Centre for First Nations Governance is dedicated to transitioning First Nations from the Indian Act to their own concept of self-governance. The Centre started in 2006 and has since worked with over 200 First Nations across Canada, delivering self-governance services to citizens and leaders.
Planning Practice and Reconciliation
(Source: Canadian Institute of Planners)
The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) developed a document which underlines the responsibility to incorporate reconciliation into their planning practice. The document adds that planners should recognize and uphold Indigenous planning, law, and governance systems that
have sustained Indigenous peoples since time immemorial and have important knowledge of sustainability and community development embedded in them.