Montreal Gazette

STILL A LONG WAY TO GO

All have role to play in reconcilia­tion, Rose Lemay and Julie Cafley say.

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We met on a sunny Saturday afternoon to talk about the progress of reconcilia­tion ahead of the second National Day of Truth and Reconcilia­tion, Sept. 30. A First Nations leader and champion for Indigenous peoples, and a non-indigenous leader who strives to be an authentic ally, we wanted to write about hope and action.

We first met a decade ago at the 2012 Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference. Our team of conference delegates travelled through Saskatchew­an discoverin­g the warmth of a beautiful province often overlooked. We witnessed the emotional gathering of the Truth and Reconcilia­tion event in La Ronge, and our team experience­d the pain and trauma of First Nations survivors. At that time, few non-indigenous people witnessed the daily battles of Indigenous peoples to share the truth, so it was a striking lesson.

As we sat together recently to draft our thoughts on reconcilia­tion, one of the worst massacres in Canadian history occurred in a First Nations community in Saskatchew­an. We all reacted with disbelief and grief.

Many of us have gone online to learn more, and instead found nauseating racism, bigotry and ignorance in the comments sections. It is heartbreak­ing to know that Indigenous people expected it, but others are surprised at the vitriol against Indigenous peoples.

Canadians purport to be among the most educated and compassion­ate people in the world. We are admired for our diversity, open-mindedness and warmth. We have our first Indigenous Governor General, our first Indigenous Supreme Court judge, more and more Indigenous elected members from coast to coast to coast. We have made progress, and we still have a long way to go.

We also let racism occur against Indigenous peoples daily in this country.

As we acknowledg­e the past, we also need to act on the present.

We are all witnesses to the pain and suffering that is occurring today and every day in communitie­s across the country from public places to profession­al settings. We know from anecdotes and data that in addition to paying an emotional tax — the combinatio­n of being on guard to protect against bias because of race, ethnicity and gender and experienci­ng the associated effects on well-being and ability to thrive at work — only 39 per cent of Indigenous employees feel psychologi­cally safe at work. We all have a role to play in changing that.

Every single Canadian needs to play an active role in reconcilia­tion.

What can you do?

■ If you are a witness to racism and remain silent, you are part of the problem. Say something. Do something. Hold people to account when they express racism or racist sentiments about Indigenous peoples. Interrupt biased behaviours and encourage others to do the same.

■ Reflect on your own behaviour and continue to learn. We all hold unconsciou­s biases. Recognize it, acknowledg­e it and grow constantly.

■ Reach out to a First Nations, Inuit or Métis person in your life to express support and check in. They are hurting. If you don't have Indigenous people in your network, ask yourself why.

■ Ask your workplace what they are doing to address reconcilia­tion and hold leaders accountabl­e for action. Get involved. Advocate. Respect the history and culture of First Nations, Inuit and Métis colleagues. Honour the burdens they carry.

We cannot change our history, but we are responsibl­e for today and tomorrow. We all have a role to play

— in upholding oppressive systems or working to change them.

Rose Lemay is Tlingit from B.C. and chief executive of the Indigenous Reconcilia­tion Group (the-irg.ca) which provides education and coaching in anti-racism and reconcilia­tion. Julie Cafley is executive director of Catalyst Canada (catalyst.org), an organizati­on that builds more inclusive and diverse workplaces.

 ?? PIERRE OBENDRAUF FILES ?? Nathaniel Goodwin carries smoking fire during the National Day for Truth and Reconcilia­tion march in Montreal on Sept. 30, 2021. As we acknowledg­e the past, we also need to act on the present, Rose Lemay and Julie Cafley say.
PIERRE OBENDRAUF FILES Nathaniel Goodwin carries smoking fire during the National Day for Truth and Reconcilia­tion march in Montreal on Sept. 30, 2021. As we acknowledg­e the past, we also need to act on the present, Rose Lemay and Julie Cafley say.

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