Resources to Help Understand Truth & Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation serves as a solemn reminder to acknowledge the enduring hardships faced by Indigenous communities, particularly in the context of the painful legacy left by the Canadian Indian residential school system. This significant day pays tribute to the lives of the children who never returned home, honours the resilience of survivors, and extends its recognition to their families and communities.

When certain cultural events arrive on the calendar, it's natural for apprehension to creep in. How does one best acknowledge the cultural significance of the day without skipping over its importance? As the 30th approaches, we at Otter Co-op have looked for ways to start the conversation, listen, acknowledge and support.

Otter Co-op’s Support with Indigenous Perspectives Society

At Co-op, we greatly care about being a part of our local community and fostering an inclusive space. Our members are at the heart of what we do, and we want to understand best and meet their needs. In the past, we have partnered with the Indigenous Perspectives Society (IPS), a not-for-profit social enterprise that offers training and consulting to help foster a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives. We want to support them as they bridge the gap in cultural differences within the community.

For over thirty years, IPS has been paving the way in offering knowledge and expertise in BC’s Indigenous child and family welfare legislation, practice, and policy. Currently, they offer training on behalf of the provincial Government’s Ministry of Child and Family Development for Indigenous Child and Family Serving Agencies throughout the province, allowing them to introduce and broaden the perspective of a wide network in many public circles.

You can get more details here if you want to learn more about their training and consulting.

$125,000 DONATION TO UNIVERSITY OF REGINA

In 2023 we were proud to partner with Co-op's across Western Canada and Federated Co-operatives Limited to donate $125,000 to the University of Regina to support Indigenous language education.

This gift will be used to create textbooks and audio resources supporting the development of post-secondary Dakota and Dene language courses. Both languages are endangered to varying extents.

LEARN MORE HERE.

Wear an Orange Shirt- Acknowledge a Need to Learn More

At our Langley Retail Centre, we are offering Orange Shirts for purchase. The proceeds will go towards Orange Shirt Society Fund, a society formed to create awareness of the intergenerational impacts of the residential schools.  Wearing a shirt will also publicly help you become a part of the national movement to recognize Canadian history and help support the commitment that every child matters.

More Resources to Learn More

We understand that wearing an orange shirt is only the first step. For this reason, if you would like to learn more, please refer to the following resources to become better educated in Indigenous history and culture.

Matriarch Movement Podcast 
All My Relations Podcast 
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph 
Indigenomics by Carol Anne Hilton 
Sacred Instructions by Sherri Mitchell 
Free online Indigenous course presented by the University of Alberta 

Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Find one that you can start working on.

Build relationships with Indigenous communities in your area.

Support Indigenous businesses and artists.

Sign the 215 Pledge. The 215+ Pledge is a call to action to come together to #DoSomething to make sure no child who died at residential school is forgotten and that the experiences of all of those who attended residential school are honoured.

The Downie Wenjack Fund

The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund is part of Gord Downie’s legacy and embodies his commitment, and that of his family, to improving lives of First Peoples in Canada. In collaboration with the Wenjack Family, the goal of the Fund is to continue the conversation that began with Chanie Wenjack’s residential school story, and to aid our collective reconciliation journey through a combination of awareness, education, and action.

Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.

Support the work being done by the Downie Wenjack Fund – sign up to their newsletter and find ways to donate to downiewenjack.ca.

Crisis hotlines provided by the Government of Canada

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support to former Indian Residential School students and their families toll-free at 1-866-925-4419.

Individuals impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls are encouraged to contact the MMIWG Crisis Line toll-free at 1-844-413-6649.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis seeking immediate emotional support can contact the Hope for Wellness Help Line toll-free at 1-855-242-3310, or by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.