Learn with Open Minds, Listen with Open Hearts.
September 30th marks Truth and Reconciliation Day around Canada. This year as a team, Goodlawyer is actively committing to learning the truth about Indigenous history in Canada, acknowledging and understanding injustices that continue to affect Indigenous people today, and creating actionable steps for how we can participate in meaningful reconciliation.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
NOTE: The topics addressed in this post and at the links below may be triggering for individuals, particularly Survivors of The Residential School System. Please call the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line for former Residential School students 1-866-925-4419 if you or others are triggered.
Step One: Learn the Truth
Below we’ve provided foundational resources specific to learning the truth about Indigenous history. As a legal tech platform, we found that these resources helped us frame why we need to learn the truth and unlearn what we thought we knew; apologies don’t mean anything unless you know what you are apologizing for and acknowledging mistakes requires knowing what the mistakes are. This is the only way to move forward.
Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future
“The Commission defines reconciliation as an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships. A critical part of this process involves repairing damaged trust by making apologies, providing individual and collective reparations, and following through with concrete actions that demonstrate real societal change. Establishing respectful relationships also requires the revitalization of Indigenous law and legal traditions. It is important that all Canadians understand how traditional First Nations, Inuit, and Métis approaches to resolving conflict, repairing harm, and restoring relationships can inform the reconciliation process.”
UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples
“Adopting the Declaration as a framework for reconciliation is about building a better Canada for Indigenous peoples and all Canadians today, and into our future.”
Step Two: Listen to Indigenous Voices
Take the time to find news, books, podcasts, art, music, and other resources from Indigenous sources. Get your perspectives from Indigenous people; they have lived experiences and best understand Indigenous culture and history in Canada.
Legacy of Hope Foundation — This resource provides testimonies from those who survived the residential school systems and those who are sharing on behalf of students who went missing or did not survive the schools. The Legacy of Hope Foundation also produced nineteen exhibitions on the Residential School System, reports on current news, and many other resources
We encourage you to watch the Escaping From Residential Schools videos and ask yourself:
How would this have impacted my family if this was our story?
Imagine looking at the members of your family at a family gathering, and at least one out of two (or more) never returned from residential school or died shortly following their return. Those that did return now suffer from trauma related health issues including addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, and other physical and mental health issues that for Indigenous people, almost inevitably lead to over-incarceration, poverty, discrimination, violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA people, and more. Not only does this affect the family member, but this is all now part of the experience of their entire family and their descendants.
Unrooted Podcast - The Indigenous Foundation — Unrooted is a podcast by The Indigenous Foundation, focused on centring Indigenous voices and stories. Through candid discussions with Indigenous and Afro-Indigenous advocates and change-makers, Unrooted, is dismantling systems of oppression and uprooting the deeply ingrained issues and racism that exist against Indigenous peoples today.
Step Three (and repeat): Reconciliation
Below we’ve provided resources specific to reconciliation which the Goodlawyer team is using. Learn more about how all individuals and organizations can implement acts of reconciliation into their daily lives.
Authentic Allyship Project — Authentic Allyship Project represents a collaboration between Indigenous scholar and lawyer Andrea Menard and non-Indigenous ally Marc Bhalla. They apply professional and life experiences to identify practical steps in support of the acknowledgement of truth and the goal of reconciliation.
150 Acts — Created by Crystal Fraser and Sara Komarnisky, 150 Acts provides accessible steps for anyone to take on an “everyday” level. Many of these are small, everyday acts that average Canadians can undertake, but others are more provocative and are intended to encourage people to think about Indigenous-settler relationships in new ways.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
“92. ii. Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.
92.iii. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.”
Consistent and ongoing reconciliation actions are the only way towards a better future for all, but it’s important to recognize and understand that reconciliation will not happen overnight or in the short term. There is no magic pill; reconciliation is generational work which must be repeated today and well into the future.
Next Steps?
Through continued learning, un-learning, and ongoing acts of reconciliation, we’re taking individual responsibility to help rebuild the bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and to support economic reconciliation in Canada.
Our mission at Goodlawyer is to do good and a part of “doing good” is opening up room at the table for all people to access legal help, especially those from marginalized communities. As we learn and train our team on culturally appropriate ways to support and engage with Indigenous businesses, we’re also working to onboard more Indigenous business lawyers who have the legal expertise and understanding of the cultural nuances important to Indigenous founders.
If you or someone you know has experience in Indigenous law and looking to grow their practice we’d love to connect. Learn more here.
A Special Thanks.
We’d like to thank our Lawyer in Residence, Pauline Chan, who has been leading the charge in developing the culture at our company around diversity, equity and inclusion.
Let's listen, learn and stand together to help each other grow and succeed.
