Truth and Reconciliation Community Bobcaygeon VISIONfortheFUTURE2019

Overview • OurVisionfor2019/2020andBeyond•  Creatingacompellingpictureofthefuture

• OurAudience• Whodowehaveinmindwhenweareplanning

• OurValues•  ClearValuestoGuideUs•  Ourcoresharedvaluesandthewhatthatlookslikeinaction

• OurPlan•  CurrentSnapshot

•  What’sWorking•  PotentialBarriers

•  OurPlan•  Thestepswetaketotakeusfromwherewearetoaccomplishingourvision

Hosted at Bass Lake Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg Territory

Why our vision

matters:

•  Avisiondescribesacompellingfuturestate.Itactslikeamagnet,pullingourgroupforward.

•  Avisionshowsussomethingbetterinsomewaythanwhatexiststoday.Itgiveshopeforthefuture.Theabilitytoimagineortohaveavisionisoneofthekeyingredientsinmakingsomethinghappen.

•  WhenwedidtheplaywithDrewHaydenTaylor,wethoughtbigandsomanythreadsliketheworkshopswiththeschools,thereachingouttoCLFNandtheQ&Acametogetherunderonecompellingumbrella.

•  Thissharedvisionofwherewewanttogoisthefirststepinhelpingustogettoourdesiredoutcome-inactuallyachievingalargergoal.Itprovidesinspirationtokeepusallmovingforwardinthesamedirectionandissomethingwecanrefertooftentoavoiddistractionstakingusoffcourseandreducingourimpact.

•  MartinLutherKing’svisioninhis“Ihaveadream”speechisstillenergizingandcompellingpeopleforwardlongafterhisdeath

Overview Elements of Our Vision

RelationshiptotheLand

Education

Relationships Relationships

CelebratingandDefendingManoomin

CreatingaPhysicalSpacePlaceofReconciliation

RelationshipsIntentionalfocusonChildrenandYOUTHSpreading

TRCbySeedingGroups

AffectingPolicywherewecan

Vision Element - Manoomin •  TRC–Bobcaygeonstartedin2015withourconcernfortherightsoflocal

FirstNationstoharvestmanoominandwecontinuetoemphasizeitsimportanceinourvisionbylearningandsupportingthedesiresofFirstNationsaroundtheissuesofmanoomin.

•  Manoominisflourishinginthewaterwayssurroundingourcommunity.

•  ThereisarobustparticipationinManoominCeremoniesbyIndigenousandnon-IndigenouspeoplewhichisstrengtheningrespectfulrelationshipsbetweencottagersandFirstNations.

•  TheTruthandReconciliationCommissionrecommendation#57hasbeenimplementedsuccessfully.•  Wecalluponfederal,provincial,territorialandmunicipalgovernments

toprovideeducationtopublicservantsonthehistoryofAboriginalpeoples…Thiswillrequireskills-basedtrainingininterculturalcompetency,conflictresolution,humanrights,andanti-racism.

•  GovernmentemployeesunderstandandrespectTreatyrightsandgoodrelationshipswithFirstNations.

•  Thecommunitydiscourseaboutmanoominisoneofjointeffortandsupport.

Vision Element Relationship to the Land

•  TheClimateCrisisisapriorityinalldecisions.•  WetransformourrelationshiptotheLand•  WereframeseeingLandthroughtheColonized

lensofprivatepropertyandownershiptooneofcaretakingandrelationship.

•  Landrestitutionissupportedandhappeningprivatelyandpublicly.

•  WetakeactiontorespectandactforWater•  WeactforcleanwaterforCurveLakeFirstNation

residents•  Robustparticipationinwaterwalkstobring

attentiontothesacrednessofwater•  Weareimplementingeventsthatarelandandwaterbased.

Vision Element – Relationships •  WearebroadeningourrelationshipswithsettlersandIndigenousPeoplestofurtherTruthandReconciliation.•  WefosterconnectionwithCurveLakeFirstNation

Elders,KnowledgeKeepersandCouncilmembers.•  Wecreateeventsaimedatthelargercommunity

thataresocial,educational,and/orceremonialallowingpeopletogettoknoweachother.

•  WereachouttootherAllies,individualsandorganizationswhohaveintereststhatalignwithourstofurtherourgoals.

•  WelooktoKnowledgeKeepers,Academics,Scientists,Educators,Artists,Actors,Authorsandlocalexpertsfortheircontributions.

•  WeextendRespectfulrelationstoalllivingthings.

Vision Element – Education •  Weexpandoureducationalactivitiesabouttreatyrightsandresponsibilities,Indigenoushistorylanguageandculture,reconciliation,andimpactofcolonizationthrough:•  Storytelling•  Mediaarticlesandeditorials•  Presentationsandworkshops•  Films/theatre•  Artprojects•  Pamphlets•  Outdoorevents

•  Celebrateresiliencyaswellastruth-telling.•  Counteractnegativityandracismwithskilland

sensitivity.•  Connectwithotherswhohavehadsuccesses.

Vision Element – Affecting Policy •  WeextendourfocusbeyondeducationatthelocalleveltoadvocatingforpolicychangesattheprovincialandfederallevelsconcerningIndigenoussocialjusticeissues.

•  Welobbyfortraining/educationforthosewhoworkinanofficialcapacities.

•  WeidentifywhichrecommendationsbytheTruthandReconciliationCommissionandMissingandMurderedIndigenousWomenandGirlsreportsthatTRC-Bobcaygeoncanimplementorinfluence.

Vision Element – Children and Youth •  WeengagemorechildrenandyouthineducationalactivitiestostimulatetheirinterestintreatyrightsandresponsibilitiesandtopromoteprideofIndigenousculture,andlanguage.•  Byinvolvementinschoolprograms•  Bycelebratingandshowcasingyouthartisticendeavours

•  Bysupportingyouthinitiativesineducationalandceremonialevents

Vision Element – Seeding Groups •  Wereachouttoconnecttootherorganizationsto

bringattentiontoFirstNationtreatyrightsetc.•  MNR•  TrentLakes•  CKL

•  Wefostertruthandreconciliationeventsinnewcommunitiessuchas•  FenelonFalls•  Buckhorn•  Ennismore

•  WeprovideamodelandresourcesfornewTRCCommunitiesandsupportthemtogetstarted•  Wedocumentwhatwehavedone

Vision Element – Physical Space •  CreatingapermanentphysicalspaceasaPlaceofReconciliation•  MeetingPlace•  PlaceforArtsFestivals•  Celebrations•  Educationandhistory•  ArtsandCulture•  Communitygatherings•  Sharingfood/Café•  Mishkadeh–longtermgoal•  Interimplacestoconnect–outdoorspaces,UnitedChurchandotherpossibilities

We Are All Treaty People

Who is Our Audience

•  Notonegroupallofthetime•  YouthandChildren•  SETTLERS•  Seasonalsettlers•  Yearroundpermanentresidentsettlers•  NewCanadiansettlers•  Leaderswhodon’tunderstandthemselvesassettlersandTreatypeople

• WhoCLFNdeterminesistheaudience•  90%oftimethosewhoareinterested10%oftimethosewhoaredifficultsothattheburdenisnotlefttoFNmembers•  Environmentalgroups,ChurchGroups,Academics,Clubs(Lions,Kiwanisetc.)

Our Values - Background

•  Ourvaluesincludewhatweactuallydo+valuesthatweaspireto

•  Whyweremindourselvesofourvalues:•  Valuesgetusoutofourheadandintoourheart•  AlignuswithSocialJustice•  Storiesbasedonourvaluescreateconnections•  Valueshelpuscommunicate“Ihadadream”speechbasedonvalues

•  Touchesonwhatpeoplehaveincommon

•  The7GrandfatherTeachingsareourfoundations

•  Thenameofeachvalueisbestexplainedbylookingatwhatwedowhenweareactinguponthatvalue(ouractionsandbehaviour)eg;inourgroupwevalueRESPECTthereforewelistentoeachother,areinclusiveandworktowardconsensus.

SevenGrandfatherTeachings

Love

EveryindividualhasmessagesofhopeandcelebrationPassionforSocialJusticeActivismConsensusWevaluethosewhothinkdifferently

Truth LearningadifferentwayofknowingEducatingourselvesonthetruths

Bravery Decolonizingourapproach:Decolonizingself-reflectionConfrontingracismConnectingwithpeopleofdifferentvalues

Humility ListeningtoeachotherNodominance;getridofegoWeallmakecontributions

Wisdom Opentonewwaysofknowingandbeing(egceremony)Learningadifferentwayofknowing

Honesty HealthydifferenceofopinionsWevaluethosewhothinkdifferentlySelf-reflectionondecolonizing

Respect Valuedifferenceanddiversity:RespectforthespiritualSpiritual-LoveoftheLandCommunity-buildingrelationships

Current Snapshot Strengths / Effectiveness – Part 1

• A+forOurMediaPresence-KawarthaThisWeeketc,Letters,Editorials,Articles• OurEducationalEfforts•  Freddie• DJ• Alice–QuiltingWorkshop• Movies/Speakers•  TreatyRights• History•  Schools• DougWilliams

•  Food• Alliances(continuedonnextpage)

Current Snapshot Strengths / Effectiveness - Continued – Part 2

•  Alliances•  CLFN•  CVFM•  Settler’sVillage•  Trent•  Library/Museum

•  PublicOutreach•  “CottagersandIndians”•  CanadaDayFloat• MMIWGdemonstration• WaterWalks•  SubtleProfileBuildingwithPresenceatCouncilofCanadians,GreenNewDeal,MindeneventwithDanLongboat

•  CreativePieces–T-shirts,paddles

Current Snapshot Strengths / Effectiveness - Continued – Part 3

•  ContinuousLearning•  Internal• MMIWG,TRC•  Books,SherryT’sthesis

•  Lobbying/Representation•  Notonlywhatwedobuthowwedoitrespectfully•  Eg–letters,Park’sCanada

•  LearnedalotfromFNinthiswork–honourable,humbleresponses

•  Howwesupporteachother•  Noego/acceptingofeachother• Wetrustthatweknowwhereweareheaded/trustineachother•  ImportantforCLtoseethewaywework