Why should I care? Why is this important?
In the above video, created in advance of the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2021, the Honourable Murray Sinclair, former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, speaks to the need to put forth a message of “hope for reconciliation, of hope that we can come to terms with this past, of hope that we will be able to establish a new and better relationship between ourselves as Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people can in fact be the pathway to the future. It’s going to take a lot of effort. It’s going to take a lot of time.”
Murray Sinclair goes further to say that “we are not only calling for people to understand this truth and to accept it, but we’re also calling on people to recognize that, there came with it, benefits and privileges that now are bestowed upon the settler population, that were bestowed at great cost to Indigenous people. The loss of land, the loss of resources, the loss of access to their own potential as human beings, is part of the price that Indigenous people have paid for the existence of this nation… but we also need to get people to think about what is it that we can do properly to come to terms with this.”
Despite often being thought of as events of the past, the exploitation, marginalization, and colonization of Indigenous Peoples, their communities, their lands, and their livelihoods are ongoing and prevalent in our everyday lives. As such, there is a call for settlers to address these issues, in addition to the role of Indian Residential Schools in Canada and harmful policies, structures, and attitudes. There is also a need to acknowledge the histories and experiences of Indigenous Peoples and to uplift their voices and celebrate their excellence. Doing this work is extremely important for many reasons, including working towards making a difference for future generations.
Learning about Indigenous realities, histories, cultures, and knowledge is a strategic goal for the UBC community and a national priority and expectation. You are being called upon both personally and professionally, as per the TRC Calls to Action, the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan and the Memorandum of Affiliation between Musqueam and UBC, to advance change in your classrooms, departments/units, and communities.
Doing this work is also an extremely important element of supporting Indigenous students in becoming more comfortable with themselves and their identities.
