b'RECONCILIATIONI started contemplating how the TRC was completed inof great soapstone carvers, artists and musicians who 2015, but we are still coming to grips with the truthare from Six Nations of the Grand River. What about the part of the commission, especially as more and moregreat lacrosse players currently earning U.S. scholarships unmarked graves are discovered across Turtle Island.and professional contracts across Turtle Island, along The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girlswith several junior and pro hockey players? and Two-Spirited movement has seemingly stalled. The Land Back movement near my home community, SixOne could argue that we dont see those things out in Nations of the Grand River, remains unresolved. Policingfront of us on a daily basis. But then the conversation and Just-Us issues still occur regularly. The treaty andshifted to how this would be discussed in his classroom. fishing rights of the Mikmaq or treaty and pipelinesWe wondered what the students would say and why. We of the Wetsuweten are still very much in the news. Italso hit on the question: Does this conversation count as really made me wonder how much energy or effort thereconciliation? average Indigenous or non-Indigenous teacher couldDan and I have known each other for a long time; weve put towards bringing the reconciliation aspect into theplayed rugby together in New Zealand and in Ontario. classroom, the school, or even the staff room. HowMore importantly, we trust each other for a variety of uncomfortable would they be even doing that, particu- reasons. Just imagine if, as a non-Indigenous teacher, larly if theyre non-Indigenous? you were to have this conversation with an Indigenous In case youve been wondering, there are 94 Calls toconsultant or somebody from a First Nations community Action. I had to look that up to make sure that therenear you whom you might not know as well as Dan and I were, in fact, 94. That number bugs me too: whyknow each other. Imagine if those stereotypical negative couldnt they get to 95 or even 100? I mean, theyimages were brought upor if such images actually did probably could have gone over 100 if we truly consid- come to mind and then were not brought up for fear ered many of the struggles, right? Anyway, like mostof reprisal. I would suggest that the conversation, as things, the TRC has a priority level in all of our limitedpart of reconciliation, would start from a place that was capacities as we try to meet the needs of our studentsdisingenuous and lacking integrity for fear of offending as well as the demands laid out by the board and thethe Indigenous person with stereotypes.curriculum. I personally dont know how much spaceThis is a small example of why reconciliation is hard. the TRC should take up in a day or a month in a personsSince Dan is self-aware, he knew that his first three brain. If you ask someone who is super-woke, as well asimages of my home community could (and should) be Indigenous, the amount of effort and capacity that theyheld as stereotypically negative, but because he knew have as they fight decolonization might mean it shouldand trusted me, he knew he was safe to be honest. But be happening every damn day!how does reconciliation happen if people are afraid to be Should Indigenous folks just be happy with Orangehonest with what they do and do not know about First Shirt Day and the wee bit of attention that such a dayNations communities, people, culture, history, and the places on some of our history? Sure, its an importantmany injustices that happened in our history that are still part of our history, but it reminds us of the negativebeing felt today? aspects. To come from a place of strength, maybe weWe both knew that we had to explore the original deserve a month? Maybe we should have a paradequestion about why those particular images were the and weeks-long celebration like the LGBTQ2S+ folks!first three images that were conjured when I asked Several NHL teams got on board by paying homage to Indigenous culture with special jerseys and logos. In New Zealand, they have Waitangi Day in February and have been singing the national anthem in Mori and English since the late 90s. Hockey games have done our anthem in Cree too. I guess we are making someRIEL Institute forfor Education & L earning RIEL InstituteEducation & L earning RIEL Institute for Education & Learning strides, arent we? Deli erngning progr d ostto Iddi ndiggenous studdenits since 2000tivittraining pprograms toio u niIDeliveri L RI stitut nstitu Efm o t Indg & tnu e sn tenarntsg inceRIE ng In ngnraig progtem u r Enucenoou&s ing sin s20002000 DeliverrEL I e forraas ca iona o n a tud n dennce R ai in E ge L ss rLetssPrograms offered: Programs offered: PDelivering trI i ns i t g og rams to Ind fen o a s dige d& s s st i ea nts si 0 ce 2000 RIE Delive ng i r ro t i e for Ed sr c u t on ents ude rni 0 nL ani rP p traniam t rogra ige re a : i tu nouL nce 20 ngn tu g rng pofm u o d su st IntroAb AborigiFna ort aining pr o ere ms offere n alm Filaya m&il yY &o uYtho uSthu pSpuoprtp FIRST IMPRESSIONS DeliveringPrograms Pr ff graoriginal d:s students since 2000 d: ograms to Indige ouA Abor l iginal Family & Youth Supportck) hIndiig nious Youth C C ectio &During our chat, I asked my friend Dan to tell me theborigina d orm nou s Yo hth uou onnectons (a&s Ft Tasrta Tckr)a Ine F ge iinal Familt u Snn o rtu nsi ( rt Faigly &Youy & Yppo S ppoAb a thProg ramsoffered:on eIndi ndige no u sC outhCoonnne t ( ti ons(&ck) ast Track) Igenoun d ige u o s Youth rl ioonnections Track) Tra F Ab Isd g onou YE ect y ns (& F h s c &FastY thonnC ( aofirst three things that came to mind when he thoughtIndiIn ri igen us ha odiChoild d ood Education o inal F a uth Support o amily & Yogenous Early Chldh oEducation Indigenous ly Childhood Education Indigenous EaroEducation s Early ChildhIndigenous Yout Connections (& Fast Track) oabout my home community. He suggested smokeFunding avIndigen tos Earfied applicants! ailableou qualifChildhood Education l E lyFunding availablle too quualified applicants! Funding available to qualified applicants licants! Funding available to qualified app ! shacks, cheap gas, and now, pot shopsvery stereotyp- Indigenous Early Childhood Education Funding nfo a ilab on tion it i u w fw it d te l . i com tutents! m Funding availableatioquali ww.riel applicants! Fo For more inform to n visi l t: w fied institute.com r more imoreinformavisv : sit: w t w u ie nsti ute.coFor rmati ow w.rielinstit .comical, unfortunately, but not wrong. So, then we delvedFor more information visit: www.rielins .ri a av le tquai ieapplicaFor more informa on visit .com into why those three things came to mind instead ofFor more information vi it: www.rielinstitute.com ti n : www.rielinstitutesthe Champion of Champions Pow Wow, or the number2022indspiration63'