ELN Spotlight: Active Allyship in Reconciliation

Honouring the diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and cultures also means acknowledging the challenges these communities face and the role rising-leaders must play in supporting them. 

Celebrating National Indigenous History Month marks our ongoing commitment to supporting education and active allyship within the ELN.

As we work to overcome systemic racism, while also recovering from COVID-19, we have a clear opportunity to do better together. To rebuild our region, we must amplify marginalized voices, support those excluded from decision-making, and create new opportunities for participation in city-building. More than ever, it’s time to get to work. 

The ELN Executive Committee commits to the following three actions during our 2020/2021 term:

1. Keep conversations going on truth and reconciliation within the ELN, starting with our upcoming event—#ELNonline: Real Talk on Reconciliation scheduled for Tuesday, June 23rd at 6 pm. Register here to join us.
2. Undergo Anti-Oppression training and Indigenous Cultural Competency training as an Executive Committee by the end of 2020.  
3. Improve the inclusion, engagement, and visibility of Indigenous rising leaders in our network through strategic partnerships with Indigenous organizations.

Active allyship requires daily practice. Below is a list of actions you can take today to educate yourself and better understand your role as an ally. 

Check them out, share them with your network, and most importantly, apply them to your leadership toolkit.

LEARN

Learn about foundational documents such as:    

• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. website
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Reports.
• Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner of Canada: Calls to Action.
• The Journey Together: Ontario’s Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
• The Urban Indigenous Action Plan (Government of Ontario).
• Toronto-specific and general resources compiled by the city.
• Final Report on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’.
• Canadian Public Opinion on Aboriginal Peoples: A national survey of non-Aboriginal Canadians.
• Cultivating Canada: Reconciliation through the Lens of Cultural Diversity.

EXPLORE

Explore the land and spaces that we inhabit: 

• First Story Toronto.
• Whose Land.
• Explore the Indigenous Roots: A Living History Toronto Tour created by Heritage Toronto as part of their #HeritageAtHomeSeries.

TRAIN

Take the opportunity to attend a training or a course on the unique history of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous experiences:  

• Rainwatch Advising.
• San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training.
• Indigenous Relations Training.
• Take a free course offered by the University of Alberta; Indigenous Canada 

FOLLOW

Follow organizations already doing critical work to support Indigenous communities: 

• Yellowhead Institute.
• Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.
• Canadian Roots Exchange (Youth Reconciliation Leaders of Toronto).
• Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (Toronto).
• Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council.
• Indigenous Affairs Office – Toronto.
• The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund.
• Indigenous Professional Association of Canada.

READ

Read books and magazines by Indigenous authors

• Toronto Public Library’s list of books written by Indigenous authors.
• Check out Muskrat Magazine; an Indigenous-led magazine based in Toronto.
• 35 books to read for National Indigenous History Month.
• Seven Fallen Feathers.
• The Inconvenient Indian.
• The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative.
• The Wayfinders.

AMPLIFY AND JOIN

Amplify and join Indigenous local events happening in the GTHA throughout the month of June  

• Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival (June 1-21).
• Indigenous Day Live (August 29).
• #ELNonline: Real Talk on Reconciliation (June 23rd)

WATCH

Watch films and videos that share stories of Indigenous experiences produced by Indigenous filmmakers 

• Toronto Indigenous Community – Learn. Engage. Create.
• Colonization Road by Anishinaabe comedian, writer, and media maker Ryan McMahon.
• Indigenous Made Films.

LISTEN

Listen to Indigenous podcasts and singers 

• Classic Roots; a Toronto-based DJ.
• Indigenous warrior Pam Palmeter’s Warrior Life podcast.
• Indigenous music.
• Native Currents.
• This Land.
• Red Man Laughing.
• Coffee With My Ma.
• All My Relations.
• The Jig Is Up.
• Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo.