
hello everyone what a great day it is today I want to recognize the territory
today I want to recognize the territory
today I want to recognize the territory on which we live and gather today of the
on which we live and gather today of the
on which we live and gather today of the stalo people who have lived here since
stalo people who have lived here since
stalo people who have lived here since time immemorial the collective title and
time immemorial the collective title and
time immemorial the collective title and rights of the stalo has never been
rights of the stalo has never been
rights of the stalo has never been extinguished or ceded to any government
it is through the laws and respect of
it is through the laws and respect of the land and the water and the air and
the land and the water and the air and
the land and the water and the air and the non-human beings that the stalo have
the non-human beings that the stalo have
the non-human beings that the stalo have survived and thrived throughout the
survived and thrived throughout the
survived and thrived throughout the generations here it is 2017
generations here it is 2017
generations here it is 2017 happy birthday Canada 150 years since
happy birthday Canada 150 years since
happy birthday Canada 150 years since Confederation as a Canadian what does
Confederation as a Canadian what does
Confederation as a Canadian what does the highway of tears residential schools
the highway of tears residential schools
the highway of tears residential schools the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission mean to you to me it means relationships
I’d like to share my journey of
I’d like to share my journey of relationships that began with one
relationships that began with one
relationships that began with one conversation when speaking of
conversation when speaking of
conversation when speaking of conversations what was more important
conversations what was more important
conversations what was more important than the first telephone it was the
than the first telephone it was the
than the first telephone it was the second telephone
my journey of relationships this past 20
my journey of relationships this past 20 years in Chilliwack has been supporting
years in Chilliwack has been supporting
years in Chilliwack has been supporting families with young children and
families with young children and
families with young children and completing my master’s degree in
completing my master’s degree in
completing my master’s degree in education the desire of my heart is to
education the desire of my heart is to
education the desire of my heart is to support vulnerable women which the
support vulnerable women which the
support vulnerable women which the United Nations says when you support
United Nations says when you support
United Nations says when you support vulnerable women everything in your
vulnerable women everything in your
vulnerable women everything in your community improves that’s a really good
community improves that’s a really good
community improves that’s a really good return on investment the truth of
return on investment the truth of
return on investment the truth of reconciliation in the 94 calls to action
reconciliation in the 94 calls to action
reconciliation in the 94 calls to action have really gripped my heart recently in
have really gripped my heart recently in
have really gripped my heart recently in my role as executive director of the BC
my role as executive director of the BC
my role as executive director of the BC Association of family resource programs
Association of family resource programs
Association of family resource programs our relationship with the University of
our relationship with the University of
our relationship with the University of British Columbia’s First Nations
British Columbia’s First Nations
British Columbia’s First Nations Indigenous Studies program led to
Indigenous Studies program led to
Indigenous Studies program led to something great we now have our own
something great we now have our own
something great we now have our own statement of reconciliation
statement of reconciliation
statement of reconciliation so reconciliation
so reconciliation
so reconciliation what is it all about justice Maurice and
what is it all about justice Maurice and
what is it all about justice Maurice and Clare chair of the Truth and
Clare chair of the Truth and
Clare chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada says
Reconciliation Commission of Canada says
Reconciliation Commission of Canada says that reconciliation is not an indigenous
that reconciliation is not an indigenous
that reconciliation is not an indigenous problem but it’s a Canadian problem and
problem but it’s a Canadian problem and
problem but it’s a Canadian problem and it is about forging and maintaining
it is about forging and maintaining
it is about forging and maintaining respectful relationships and that there
respectful relationships and that there
respectful relationships and that there are no shortcuts my journey of
are no shortcuts my journey of
are no shortcuts my journey of relationships continued as I listened to
relationships continued as I listened to
relationships continued as I listened to reconciliation Canada’s ambassador chief
reconciliation Canada’s ambassador chief
reconciliation Canada’s ambassador chief dr. Robert Joseph he was opening at the
dr. Robert Joseph he was opening at the
dr. Robert Joseph he was opening at the Minerva Foundation for women in June
Minerva Foundation for women in June
Minerva Foundation for women in June 2016 in Vancouver and he says our future
2016 in Vancouver and he says our future
2016 in Vancouver and he says our future and the well-being of all our children
and the well-being of all our children
and the well-being of all our children rests in the kind of relationships that
rests in the kind of relationships that
rests in the kind of relationships that we build today the co-chair that day
we build today the co-chair that day
we build today the co-chair that day consultant chastity Davis shared about
consultant chastity Davis shared about
consultant chastity Davis shared about the highway of tears and the national
the highway of tears and the national
the highway of tears and the national inquiry to the murdered and missing
inquiry to the murdered and missing
inquiry to the murdered and missing indigenous women and girls I waited at
indigenous women and girls I waited at
indigenous women and girls I waited at the end of the day to talk with chasity
the end of the day to talk with chasity
the end of the day to talk with chasity and I shared about our community family
and I shared about our community family
and I shared about our community family support work and I said maybe there’s a
support work and I said maybe there’s a
support work and I said maybe there’s a role we can play in this somehow well a
role we can play in this somehow well a
role we can play in this somehow well a few months later
few months later
few months later chasity and I met for coffee and then in
chasity and I met for coffee and then in
chasity and I met for coffee and then in the fall
the fall
the fall our staff attended an amazing training
our staff attended an amazing training
our staff attended an amazing training at Raven Institute we heard stories and
at Raven Institute we heard stories and
at Raven Institute we heard stories and impacts of colonization on indigenous
impacts of colonization on indigenous
impacts of colonization on indigenous families from leaders Tara Fraser Kiana
families from leaders Tara Fraser Kiana
families from leaders Tara Fraser Kiana Alexander chasidy Davis and Monique
Alexander chasidy Davis and Monique
Alexander chasidy Davis and Monique gray-smith when chasity and Tara shared
gray-smith when chasity and Tara shared
gray-smith when chasity and Tara shared we are women of mixed heritage we are
we are women of mixed heritage we are
we are women of mixed heritage we are the colonized and we are the colonizers
the colonized and we are the colonizers
the colonized and we are the colonizers the energy shifted in the room
the energy shifted in the room
the energy shifted in the room chasidy and Tara built a bridge for
chasidy and Tara built a bridge for
chasidy and Tara built a bridge for everyone in the room to meet on it was
everyone in the room to meet on it was
everyone in the room to meet on it was fantastic Raven Institute teaches base
fantastic Raven Institute teaches base
fantastic Raven Institute teaches base your life on love and start a
your life on love and start a
your life on love and start a conversation that builds a relationship
conversation that builds a relationship
conversation that builds a relationship to move reconciliation to action it’s
to move reconciliation to action it’s
to move reconciliation to action it’s fantastic and at the end of the day I
fantastic and at the end of the day I
fantastic and at the end of the day I was sitting with a corporate executive
was sitting with a corporate executive
was sitting with a corporate executive and he says with everything I learned
and he says with everything I learned
and he says with everything I learned here today how will I teach my two and
here today how will I teach my two and
here today how will I teach my two and four year old children well one
four year old children well one
four year old children well one possibility is to come to a Family
possibility is to come to a Family
possibility is to come to a Family Resource Program parents and caregivers
Resource Program parents and caregivers
Resource Program parents and caregivers with their babies and toddlers have come
with their babies and toddlers have come
with their babies and toddlers have come to Family Resource programs for
to Family Resource programs for
to Family Resource programs for friendship education and support for
friendship education and support for
friendship education and support for over 45 years family place or Family
over 45 years family place or Family
over 45 years family place or Family Center might be a more common name that
Center might be a more common name that
Center might be a more common name that you would know family centers are
you would know family centers are
you would know family centers are communities of practice that build
communities of practice that build
communities of practice that build relationship and celebrate the day to
relationship and celebrate the day to
relationship and celebrate the day to day of parenting if you imagine a
day of parenting if you imagine a
day of parenting if you imagine a rhizome like Solomon seal or mint it can
rhizome like Solomon seal or mint it can
rhizome like Solomon seal or mint it can help you understand how this
help you understand how this
help you understand how this multidisciplinary model works
the staff the Family Center staff our
the staff the Family Center staff our Child and Family Development experts
Child and Family Development experts
Child and Family Development experts yeah where what grows more fruit is how
yeah where what grows more fruit is how
yeah where what grows more fruit is how they interact and connect with the
they interact and connect with the
they interact and connect with the parents kindness and care is at the
parents kindness and care is at the
parents kindness and care is at the heart of this work family the Family
heart of this work family the Family
heart of this work family the Family Center model mirrors many indigenous
Center model mirrors many indigenous
Center model mirrors many indigenous values such as respect humor
values such as respect humor
values such as respect humor strength-based and inclusion an
strength-based and inclusion an
strength-based and inclusion an inclusion means there’s room for
inclusion means there’s room for
inclusion means there’s room for everyone now you might be thinking why
everyone now you might be thinking why
everyone now you might be thinking why does reconciliation matter to me well I
does reconciliation matter to me well I
does reconciliation matter to me well I see it as a matter of love and care for
see it as a matter of love and care for
see it as a matter of love and care for the minds of our next generation do you
the minds of our next generation do you
the minds of our next generation do you know when your brain grows the most it’s
know when your brain grows the most it’s
know when your brain grows the most it’s from the time you’re born till you’re
from the time you’re born till you’re
from the time you’re born till you’re about three or four years old and your
about three or four years old and your
about three or four years old and your environment and your loving connections
environment and your loving connections
environment and your loving connections makes all the difference in your good
makes all the difference in your good
makes all the difference in your good health or not
health or not
health or not if you experience a bad event trauma
if you experience a bad event trauma
if you experience a bad event trauma during this high-growth time your brain
during this high-growth time your brain
during this high-growth time your brain pathways basically essentially put on
pathways basically essentially put on
pathways basically essentially put on alert and this alarm state can
alert and this alarm state can
alert and this alarm state can negatively affect you for the rest of
negatively affect you for the rest of
negatively affect you for the rest of your life leaving you in a very rough
your life leaving you in a very rough
your life leaving you in a very rough place doctor child psychologist dr.
place doctor child psychologist dr.
place doctor child psychologist dr. Vanessa Lapointe brings us some good
Vanessa Lapointe brings us some good
Vanessa Lapointe brings us some good news
news
news she says the science of child neuro
she says the science of child neuro
she says the science of child neuro development says we can inspire
development says we can inspire
development says we can inspire resilience through connection meaning
resilience through connection meaning
resilience through connection meaning that a loving and attentive parent can
that a loving and attentive parent can
that a loving and attentive parent can boost their child’s health and
boost their child’s health and
boost their child’s health and resilience it’s great news really good
resilience it’s great news really good
resilience it’s great news really good news now on the other hand for 120 years
news now on the other hand for 120 years
news now on the other hand for 120 years a hundred and fifty thousand indigenous
a hundred and fifty thousand indigenous
a hundred and fifty thousand indigenous children experienced trauma when they
children experienced trauma when they
children experienced trauma when they were separated from their parents and
were separated from their parents and
were separated from their parents and their families
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada heard indigenous people tell
of Canada heard indigenous people tell
of Canada heard indigenous people tell their stories of hunger physical and
their stories of hunger physical and
their stories of hunger physical and sexual abuse 6,000 children died while
sexual abuse 6,000 children died while
sexual abuse 6,000 children died while living at 139 schools studies show the
living at 139 schools studies show the
living at 139 schools studies show the ripple effect of intergenerational
ripple effect of intergenerational
ripple effect of intergenerational trauma this means today many indigenous
trauma this means today many indigenous
trauma this means today many indigenous families are suffering from trauma that
families are suffering from trauma that
families are suffering from trauma that their parent or their grandparent
their parent or their grandparent
their parent or their grandparent experienced while living at the school
healing can include the medicine of love
healing can include the medicine of love and safe relationships mmm iw do you
and safe relationships mmm iw do you
and safe relationships mmm iw do you know what this acronym stands for so
know what this acronym stands for so
know what this acronym stands for so this is short for murdered and missing
this is short for murdered and missing
this is short for murdered and missing indigenous women and girls spurred on by
indigenous women and girls spurred on by
indigenous women and girls spurred on by the United Nations declaration on the
the United Nations declaration on the
the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples Canadian
rights of indigenous peoples Canadian
rights of indigenous peoples Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a national inquiry to the murdered and
a national inquiry to the murdered and
a national inquiry to the murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in
missing indigenous women and girls in
missing indigenous women and girls in 2015 the 4,000 murdered and missing
2015 the 4,000 murdered and missing
2015 the 4,000 murdered and missing indigenous women and girls include those
indigenous women and girls include those
indigenous women and girls include those who have traveled on British Columbia’s
who have traveled on British Columbia’s
who have traveled on British Columbia’s highway of tears highway 16 indigenous
highway of tears highway 16 indigenous
highway of tears highway 16 indigenous women and their families are
women and their families are
women and their families are disproportionately impacted by racism
disproportionately impacted by racism
disproportionately impacted by racism sexism and colonialism says patty had
sexism and colonialism says patty had
sexism and colonialism says patty had jus Minister for the status of women we
jus Minister for the status of women we
jus Minister for the status of women we need to hear their voices she says and
need to hear their voices she says and
need to hear their voices she says and young minds in our community are
young minds in our community are
young minds in our community are listening so reconciliation is about
listening so reconciliation is about
listening so reconciliation is about relationships and it matters because it
relationships and it matters because it
relationships and it matters because it points to the injustice but how do we
points to the injustice but how do we
points to the injustice but how do we move toward reconciliation how are we
move toward reconciliation how are we
move toward reconciliation how are we gonna do that
gonna do that
gonna do that well conversation relationships and
well conversation relationships and
well conversation relationships and action the City of Vancouver took action
action the City of Vancouver took action
action the City of Vancouver took action and proclaimed 2014 as a year of
and proclaimed 2014 as a year of
and proclaimed 2014 as a year of reconciliation
reconciliation
reconciliation in an effort to heal from the past and
in an effort to heal from the past and
in an effort to heal from the past and build new relationships in 2016 Gore
build new relationships in 2016 Gore
build new relationships in 2016 Gore Downey of the band tragically hip
Downey of the band tragically hip
Downey of the band tragically hip co-authored a true story secret path
this is a story of 12 year old Chani
this is a story of 12 year old Chani when Jack and he’s running through the
when Jack and he’s running through the
when Jack and he’s running through the forest it’s wintertime and he’s run away
forest it’s wintertime and he’s run away
forest it’s wintertime and he’s run away from residential school he’s trying to
from residential school he’s trying to
from residential school he’s trying to find his way home
find his way home
find his way home but Chani dies trying that’s October
but Chani dies trying that’s October
but Chani dies trying that’s October 22nd 1966 I never knew Chani but I’ll
22nd 1966 I never knew Chani but I’ll
22nd 1966 I never knew Chani but I’ll always love him his story is Canada’s
always love him his story is Canada’s
always love him his story is Canada’s story says gordoni we must become one
story says gordoni we must become one
story says gordoni we must become one and find a path of reconciliation
and find a path of reconciliation
and find a path of reconciliation together forever
together forever
together forever so conversation relationship and action
so conversation relationship and action
so conversation relationship and action so in the same way my conversation with
so in the same way my conversation with
so in the same way my conversation with chasity led me to the University of
chasity led me to the University of
chasity led me to the University of British Columbia’s First Nations
British Columbia’s First Nations
British Columbia’s First Nations indigenous study program and in the fall
indigenous study program and in the fall
indigenous study program and in the fall our staff developed a relationship with
our staff developed a relationship with
our staff developed a relationship with student Danielle Krejci and based on
student Danielle Krejci and based on
student Danielle Krejci and based on Danielle’s research and literature
Danielle’s research and literature
Danielle’s research and literature review in 2017
review in 2017
review in 2017 Danielle wrote our statement of
Danielle wrote our statement of
Danielle wrote our statement of reconciliation and we are so grateful
reconciliation and we are so grateful
reconciliation and we are so grateful the next step in our journey will be to
the next step in our journey will be to
the next step in our journey will be to live by the promises that we’ve
live by the promises that we’ve
live by the promises that we’ve collected in our statement of
collected in our statement of
collected in our statement of reconciliation and to share our work
reconciliation and to share our work
reconciliation and to share our work with whoever would be interested what a
with whoever would be interested what a
with whoever would be interested what a great time to be alive quoting Helen
great time to be alive quoting Helen
great time to be alive quoting Helen Keller I am only one but I am still one
Keller I am only one but I am still one
Keller I am only one but I am still one I can’t do everything but I can do
I can’t do everything but I can do
I can’t do everything but I can do something so if I were to blue sky to
something so if I were to blue sky to
something so if I were to blue sky to dream of where these relationships and
dream of where these relationships and
dream of where these relationships and conversations would lead us to I see
conversations would lead us to I see
conversations would lead us to I see that we’re all together and everyone is
that we’re all together and everyone is
that we’re all together and everyone is healthy and we’re in safe and loving
healthy and we’re in safe and loving
healthy and we’re in safe and loving ways and we’re at peace because we are
ways and we’re at peace because we are
ways and we’re at peace because we are one we are one human race
one we are one human race
one we are one human race and here in this community and here in
and here in this community and here in
and here in this community and here in British Columbia and here in Canada we
British Columbia and here in Canada we
British Columbia and here in Canada we can find the good road together and make
can find the good road together and make
can find the good road together and make our history together Rabin Institute
our history together Rabin Institute
our history together Rabin Institute taught us to base our life on love and
taught us to base our life on love and
taught us to base our life on love and start a conversation I invite you today
start a conversation I invite you today
start a conversation I invite you today to find someone start a conversation and
to find someone start a conversation and
to find someone start a conversation and ask what do we want to learn about
ask what do we want to learn about
ask what do we want to learn about reconciliation maybe your smile will win
reconciliation maybe your smile will win
reconciliation maybe your smile will win you a new friend
reconciliation is here now and stands
reconciliation is here now and stands with outstretched hands to you and to me
with outstretched hands to you and to me
with outstretched hands to you and to me find someone today and have a
find someone today and have a
find someone today and have a conversation because we have the love to
conversation because we have the love to
conversation because we have the love to do this
”
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