Reflections on Truth & Reconciliation By Jen Malzer, City of Calgary & ITE Canada Past President
September 30 marked the 3rd anniversary of
dignity, which included writing racist laws and
Canada’s newest holiday: National Day for Truth
learning from allied countries, like the United
and Reconciliation. Reconciliation is a process
States, to build an Indian residential school
that has been used to heal cultural injustices and
program where kids would be separated from
atrocities and now in Canada, this day marks a
their families. The methods used in these schools
journey towards rebuilding the rights, lives, family
were horrendous, abusive, and deadly. Stories
structures, and the self-image of the indigenous
were shared by thousands of residential school
peoples in this country.
survivors and one story, by Phyllis Jack Webstad, is the first reason Canadians started marking the
In ITE we also talk about the importance of
date of September 30. In Phyllis’s story, part of
creating spaces that are inclusive of all our
what was so memorable about her residential
members and that is exactly what reconciliation
school experience to her was having everything
is all about. Truth is about owning up to errors
taken away: language, family, hair, cultural
and together, truth and reconciliation can lead
identity and a very special orange shirt. Her story
towards making amends and ultimately helping
inspired Orange Shirt Day, where Canadians
people shine on their own terms. Please bear
started coming together to bring attention to the
with me and learn how truth and reconciliation
stories and hurt caused by residential schools.
are so important and also a lesson we can apply when it comes to supporting all circles.
The truth of the injustices against indigenous peoples have come out in many other ways.
A few centuries ago, settlers to Canada
Transportation routes have been exposed as
determined that the ways of life of “our”
dangerous for women. Data by professionals has
indigenous peoples were wrong. Totally wrong
shown that to be an indigenous girl or woman
and needing to be eliminated. Eliminated. Let
means a high chance of becoming missing or
that sink in.
murdered. Indigenous men are more likely to become incarcerated. The connection between
To eliminate these cultures, our institutions built
these likelihoods and how indigenous cultures
frameworks to overtly dismantle societies and
have been valued is strong and unfair.
Integrating Truth & Reconciliation in Transportation Projects •
Crescent Road Master Plan: What We Learned from Indigenous Elders - Learning about the Crescent Road Project Area, Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Culture from Blackfoot, Stoney Nakoda & Tsuut’ina Elders (PDF, 643 KB) - A City of Calgary report outlining a project’s Indigenous engaement approach, lessons learned, and opportunities to incorporate into the project
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City of Toronto Reconciliation Action Plan - This plan covers a suite of actions including Transportation Services’ investments in programs to promote Indigenous artists, designers and youth in projects that also increase safety, functionality, and more
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Why renaming roads and how we tell stories matter for reconciliation - This article by delves into how the reclamation of Indigenous names in our public spaces supports the ongoing reconciliation, engagement, and development of mutual respect.
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Renaming Process: Kichi Zībī Mīkan - An overview of the engagement process undertaken by the National Capital Commision in renaming the former Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway in the Ottawa area)
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TRANSPORTATION TALK