JEDI’s Reconciliation Guide to Indigenous Perspective, Part 1

Welcome to the Joint Economic Development Initiative’s (JEDI) 3-part blog series on Reconciliation: A guide to Indigenous Perspective!  

There has been a shift in organizational perspective lately, where more and more organizations are making it their goal to promote acts of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in workplace policy and procedure. But a common hesitation is that not every organization knows where to start. JEDI is here to help!  

This blog series was designed to help assist employers in making reconciliation a priority. Throughout this 3-part series, you’ll learn about reconciliation from the Indigenous perspective, diversity strategies for an Indigenous-friendly workplace, and some best practices on recruiting Indigenous Peoples into your workplace.  

PART 1: What is Reconciliation?  

Reconciliation is the process by which individuals or communities attempt to arrive at a place of mutual understanding and acceptance. There is no one approach to achieving reconciliation but building trust by examining painful shared histories, acknowledging each other's truths, and a common vision are essential to the process. (Legacy of Hope, 2011)  

There has been an increase in organizations, employers, and employees reaching out for tips on how to make reconciliation happen in their workplaces. The first step to best understand how to move forward together is education; educating ourselves on the devastating experiences of Indigenous Peoples across all of Canada and the resulting inter-generational trauma that has endured.  

JEDI has developed the Indigenous Reconciliation Awareness Module (IRAM) to encourage and support organizations and businesses to promote intercultural communication and Indigenous inclusion in their workplaces. This training covers topics like pre-contact, the Indigenous Residential and Day School eras, the 60’s scoop, Enfranchisement, the foster care system, the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and much more. Additionally, this training educates participants on the need for understanding and acknowledging past harms, and how to journey to the act of Reconciliation in their workspaces.  

IRAM is a living educational program that evolves with the ever-changing narrative of the ongoing relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canada. In May of 2021, at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in B.C., a mass grave of 215 bodies was discovered. As of January 2022, thousands of confirmed or suspected unmarked graves have been identified. These numbers continue to grow as locations across the nation are investigated. There has been a public outcry for justice for children whose lives were lost and not honoured during the Indian Residential School era - the tainted history that Canadians often know little about.  

In respect to past harms endured by Indian Residential School survivors, September 30th, formerly known as, “Orange Shirt Day”, has been named, “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”. This initiative was brought forth in honor of Survivor, Phyllis Jack’s recount of her time at a Residential school. In honor of Phyllis’ pain as a child, the Orange Shirt Society was created.  

 “I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front and was so bright and exciting – just like I felt to be going to school! When I got to the Mission, they stripped me and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again.”  

To learn more about Indigenous Reconciliation, please visit some of these links below:  

If you’re interested in learning more about Indigenous reconciliation through JEDI’s IRAM, please contact our IRAM Coordinator Ashley Brooks at info@jedinb.ca or visit our website at https://jedinb.ca/iram.  

To learn about diversity strategies for an Indigenous-friendly workplace, check out the 2nd post in this series: Diversity Strategies for an Indigenous-Friendly Workplace. To learn more about Two-eyed Seeing and to learn some best practices for your organization, check out the 3rd post in this series: Best Practices When Hiring Indigenous Peoples.