This conversation was recorded before the May 29th news release that 215 Indigenous children were discovered buried outside the old Kamloops Residential School. This school is located on Sunny’s traditional territory. This tragic reminder of Canada’s past and present racist policies is a wake-up call and a call to action. For many Canadians, this is the first they have learned of the shocking practices of our country and the church. I hope this conversation furthers your learning and inspires you to learn more. Thank you for your courage to be here and listen.

What is reconciliation?  I can’t think of a better time to ask this question and listen for the answers. In this circle, we are joined by Sunny LeBourdais of the Pellt’iqt te Secwepemc Nation and Qwastanaya (L.Maynard Harry) of the Tla’amin Nation to hear the stories of their communities, the brave leadership work they are doing, and the hopes for the future.

What I have learned about reconciliation is that it must start with the truth. In this conversation, you will hear the truth in very clear and direct ways. This experience is both an education and a call to action. Please take care of yourself as you listen in, and know that by letting these words soak in and change you, you can make a difference.

What’s in this episode for you:

• 9:55 - An opening passage by Richard Wagamese

• 11:40 - Be inspired by learning about these courageous leaders and the change they are making in their communities

• 19:35 - A better understanding of what is needed to create real change in Indigenous communities and the role of leadership in that transformation

• 27:08 - A way to reframe the concept of governance in a way that decreases conflict and division

• 29:15 - How intergenerational trauma interferes with the ability to deal with conflict and why social media is contributing to divisiveness

• 35:30 - How non-Indigenous people can support healing and understanding by doing their homework

• 39:40 - Why Canada is one of the most racist countries in the world and a call to action to change our systems

• 48:15 - Some tangible and actionable definitions of what reconciliation means and what it does not mean

• 1:03:45 - Hope for the future and the new leaders that are bringing reconciliation to life

Poem: Excerpt from Embers, by Richard Wagamese:

Unity cannot exist when exclusion is allowed to occur. I was graced with this teaching years ago, when I was working as a traditional elder’s helper. The teaching was given in the context of the sacred pipe, but its intention was to help me understand community. What brings us together cannot exist in the same time and place as what keeps us apart. You. Me. Everyone. My choice is to be aware of our similarities: our yearning for truth, peace, love, belonging, welcome, grace, mercy, a god of our own understanding and at least one moment of real contact at the heart of every day. Seeing that, I am made more, included, extended and in harmony…until that moment when I no longer see.

Who’s in circle with us:

Qwastånayå (L. Maynard Harry) is a former Chief Councillor of Tla'amin Nation, where he served 4 terms as councilor. He is the Primary Signatory on the 2003 Community Accord (Tla'amin Nation/City of Powell River), and recipient of Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and Freedom of the City from the City of Powell River. He is the Manager of, Aboriginal Rights and Title Department for the Tla'amin Nation and a partner with Advanced Business Match. Maynard is also a student bag-piper.

www.indigenousinsight.ca

Sunny LeBourdais is a member of the Pellt’iqt te Secwepemc Nation (Whispering Pines/Clinton Band of the Shuswap Nation). She believes our greatest strength comes from helping each other, as declared by the Chiefs of the Interior to Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1910: “These people wish to be partners with us in our country . . . we will help each other to be great and good.” Sunny has managed and coordinated businesses and projects for the Okanagan, Ktunaxa, and Secwepemc Nations. She facilitates community-based development of strategies and decision-making processes that respect the inherent responsibility to manage activities on traditional territories. She is currently the Director of Transformation for the Qwelmínte Secwepemc Government to Government LOC where she strives to effect change through the development of collaborative inter-jurisdictional processes that give due recognition to Secwepemc laws, traditions, customs and land tenure systems.

www.qwelminte.ca/our-team

Learn more:

Tla’amin Nation and City of Powell River Community Accord

Pick up the talking piece: 

What came up for you as you listened to this episode? I'd love to hear your experiences with any of the reflections and exercises in this episode. Send me an email at [email protected] or leave a voicemail (click the voicemail button on the right).

Gratitude: 

Circle of Change is recorded on lək̓ʷəŋən territories.

Our opening and closing music was created by the talented E-Rol Beats. You can find his creations at www.erolbeats.com

My fabulous podcast coach, Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions, brought this podcast to life www.organizedsound.ca