Building the circle stronger

United Way British Columbia recognizes the significance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), the release of the TRC’s Final Report and its Calls to Action. Last year on National Aboriginal Day, the Board of United Way British Columbia adopted a Statement of Reconciliation. UWBC stated that it would evaluate internal and external commitments and report progress annually at the UWBC Annual General Meeting. Now on this year’s National Aboriginal Day, here is an update on what we have accomplished over the past year. Internal commitments: UWBC committed to providing ongoing cultural awareness training to educate staff and volunteers to learn about and appreciate Aboriginal people’s history and its current day impacts from Aboriginal Elders, educators, and Aboriginal partner agencies.

• Staff had access to online training, “Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education”
• Staff participated in a smudging ceremony and learned about the significance of this cultural tradition.

  UWBC also committed to engaging Aboriginal communities in decision making processes and planning, and to explore other ways to increase the participation of Aboriginal people within the organization.

• United Way has appointed a community impact planner, Jody Olsson, to lead the Aboriginal and First Nation engagement and investment portfolio.
• United Way is also developing a project centred on Aboriginal Early Childhood Development (ECD) that aims to respond to TRC’s Calls to Action in a way that is collective, participatory, community-based and nation-led.

  External commitments: UWBC committed to developing a protocol and continue the practice of acknowledging First Nations territory during public events and meetings.

• All public events now include a meaningful acknowledgement of First Nations territory.
• The next step will be to explore including traditional welcoming ceremonies at major public events.

  UWBC committed to continue to work with Aboriginal partners to strengthen the capacity of Aboriginal organizations and associations to plan, lead and deliver local initiatives.

• Better at Home’s Aboriginal Steering Committee was established in 2016 and The First Nations Better at Home Gathering was held earlier this month.
• Better at Home has also developed a Community of Practice with membership from our four First Nations Better at Home programs – Gitxsan, Sto:lo, Cowichan Tribes and Squamish.

  UWBC also committed to continue supporting Aboriginal communities to increase public understanding of Aboriginal life, cultural awareness, and cultural safety within the Lower Mainland and across British Columbia.

• UWLM’s Success By 6 provincial manager Joseph Dunn presented at the 2017 United Way Centraide national conference and co-founded a National United Way Centraide Indigenous Engagement Network.

See more details. https://www.flickr.com/photos/unitedwaylowermainland/albums/72157685305565405