Guest post by Jill Brooksbank. Photo by Dave Steers. Brutality. Abuse. Genocide. Slavery. Think I’m referring to the Holocaust? Think again. This is Canada’s history. The history that I’m now learning, in my late 30’s. How embarrassing. I’ve been given the opportunity through my job to take Cultural Training Safety Training; an online course aimed … Continue reading How did I not know this? Jill Brooksbank gets a lesson in Canada’s true history and it changes everything
Could you commit 2 hours a week, from your own couch, to advancing reconciliation? UBC’s Faculty of Education is offering Reconciliation through Indigenous Education, a free 6 week massive open online course (MOOC) running January 24 - March 7. It starts today, but the course is self-directed, with new modules dropping each week. It's free. You … Continue reading UBC’s free MOOC on Reconciliation kicks off this week -and you can still register
Signal Hill has one of the highest ratios of aboriginal students in the province - 40% of the elementary age kids come from a First Nations background. That means, two out of every five kids in the school come from a culture for whom school is not a safe place – not a refuge … Continue reading The bravest day of the year
Last week, I met with Clare Hanbury, the Vice Principal at Signal Hill, and Tanina Williams, an Aboriginal cultural support worker, to hear about a Blanket Ceremony I'd caught a glimpse of via Facebook. More about that tomorrow. I'm so thrilled Clare agreed to write about that incredible initiative for the Wellness Almanac, and look forward … Continue reading The Blanket Ceremony at Signal Hill
I grew up in a household where saying "sorry" meant you had really messed up, ie you had failed to righteously and indignantly defend your position. That it to say, it just didn't happen. At best, it might have sounded something like, "well, I'm sorry you feel that way." Making an apology is a skill … Continue reading How to say sorry so it counts
Everyone in Canada should have the chance to read and engage with the Truth and Reconciliation Report. It shouldn't just languish on a shelf. To that end, a group of activists have rallied people from across the country to read from the report. Or.. read this great summary from Vice magazine. For seven years, the … Continue reading Read the Truth and Reconciliation Report. Or have it read to you.
The Wellness Almanac 