In today's conversation, I sit down with an Indigenous Engineer, Professor Jessica Vandenberghe, to uncover the truth about Canada's history with institutionalizing residential schools, the impact that remains today and how we can be allies with supporting truth and reconciliation. Professor Vandenberge is an Industrial Engineer and the Assistant Dean of Engineering, Community and Culture at the University of Alberta. She is a consultant, public speaker, and STEM mentor. She serves on a number of boards and councils and also co-hosts a podcast called, Unsettled: Truth and Conciliation.
Today's episode may be triggering for some people so please take care while listening and feel free to reach out to mental health support in your community. For those in Alberta and Canada, mental health support can be accessed through: Mental Health Support in Alberta: Mental Health | Alberta Health Service or Mental health support: get help - Canada.ca
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List of Resources and Information discussed on the show:
2008 Apology by Prime Minister Stephen Harper: 2008 Federal Apology to Residential School Survivors - YouTube
2017 Apology by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: Tearful Justin Trudeau apologizes to residential school survivors in Newfoundland - YouTube
Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action: Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action, six years later - YouTube
The Calls to Action Report: calls_to_action_english2.pdf (gov.bc.ca)
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, Calls to Action: Final Report | MMIWG (mmiwg-ffada.ca)
We Will Stand Up Documentary: nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up by Tasha Hubbard - NFB
Home Fire Documentary: Home Fire - Ending the Cycle of Family Violence - YouTube
Secret Path: Gord Downie's The Secret Path - YouTube
Journey Home Documentary: Journey Home - YouTube
Jordan's Principle: Jordan’s Principle | Assembly of First Nations (afn.ca)
Jordan River Anderson: Honouring Jordan River Anderson (sac-isc.gc.ca)
Tina Fontaine: Jury finds Raymond Cormier not guilty in death of Tina Fontaine | CBC News
The Blanket Exercise: Blanket Exercise Workshop - KAIROS Canada