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On this, National Aboriginal Day...
Hillside has a long partnership with our Indigenous community members, who have run the Aboriginal Circle programming for over two decades.
This year, we are welcoming the change of the 'Aboriginal Circle' to the 'Indigenous Circle', following the lead that activists, scholars and members of the Indigenous community in Canada have made.
Programming for the Indigenous Circle is once again being led by the wonderful Jan Sherman and Lois MacDonald.
We'd like to share with you some of the events and guests happening this July at the Indigenous Circle and and throughout the festival.
In 1996, June 21st was officially declared National Aboriginal Day by then Governor General Roméo LeBlanc after decades of activism by Indigenous leaders. The date corresponds with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, an important time in many Indigenous cultures.
The day is meant to be a celebration of the "unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada" with many different events and celebrations are being held across the country today.
What are you doing today? Chances are that you are going to work and you're not going to think much more about it past this newsletter. Which is kind of the problem isn't it? Did you know that today is a Statutory Holiday in both the Northwest Territories (since 2001) and in the Yukon (as of May 2017). That leaves ten provinces and a territory, not to mention the federal goverment, which have not taken this extra step.
Aside from a day off, what does making it a statutory holiday actually matter? It symbolizes that as a nation, we recognize the importance of the subject matter and that we value it. It is the idea that we put aside our work for the day and focus on connecting to one another in a meaningful way, through education and building community.
Upon conclusion of the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission, a report was published called 'Calls to Action' , which is a list of action items that Canada (both the govermnent and its people) can do to start the reconcilliation process. For the purposes of this newsletter, we want to draw your attention to #80 :
"We call upon the federal government, in collaboration
with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory
holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to
honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and
ensure that public commemoration of the history and
legacy of residential schools remains a vital component
of the reconciliation process."
This call is focused on residential schools and there has been much discussion about whether it would be effective to broaden it to include a celebration of Indigenous culture as well as a commemoration, and fold it within National Aboriginal Day. Whether this is done or not, it IS important that we honour both the memory of trauma in addition to the uniqueness, complexity, and creativity of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
We are entering into a new era in this country in how we view, interact with, and understand our relationship with the Indigenous peoples of this land. We must all be working towards reconcilliation and that wont happen unless every one of us and every organization, company, and level of government embraces that concept and that truth.
How We Honour
Our Vision Statement, which guides every aspect of Hillside, states:
"Hillside will create a more vibrant and caring world by promoting altruism, equality, environmentalism, and peacemaking in every aspect of it's work"
This is something we take seriously and we are proud to see it reflected in our legacy. However, we recognize that there is always more work to be done and we work to remain active in our recognition of our privileges, biases, and approaches to the world.
To truly embrace and enact the spirit of reconcillation, it takes organizations like Hillside, and its members, to be leaders. It would be far too easy for us to take the 'easy' way, to pat ourselves on the back and not think about it.
As an allied organization we have an even greater responsibility to reflect, listen, act, and reflect some more. We need to make sure we are constantly moving the bar and that we are constantly challenging ourselves to do more, to do better.
Indigenous Circle
Hillside has a long partnership with our Indigenous community members, who have run the Aboriginal Circle programming for over two decades. This year, we are welcoming the change of the 'Aboriginal Circle' to the 'Indigenous Circle', following the lead that activists, scholars and members of the Indigenous community in Canada have made. Programming for the Indigenous Circle is once again being led by the wonderful Jan Sherman and Lois MacDonald.
We'd like to share with you some of the events and guests happening this July at the Indigenous Circle and and throughout the festival.
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