The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada is coming to my city next month. Next week its in neighbouring towns. It’s making the rounds on Vancouver Island. It’s on a long journey. Why is it here? In the Commission’s own words, For over 100 years in Canada, Aboriginal children were removed from their families […]
15 Ways to bridge the gap between cultures and communities in conflict
December 6, 2010 by · 14 Comments
I shed tears this weekend. They weren’t for me. They were for others, and their stories, I heard, as a participant, along with 200+ others, in the first ever Truth and Reconciliation conference between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals in Victoria. The conference was titled Open Hearts, Clear Minds: A Road to Reconciliation, and took place at […]
The turtle: A symbol of creativity AND collaboration
September 15, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
The turtle is a central figure in mythologies around the world; including the aboriginal traditions in the Pacific Northwest region of North America where I live. I’ve used a turtle as a logo on this blog since day one. John Cleese on creativity and the turtle While I have my reasons for liking turtles […]
Lessons in community values and culture from the Canadian outposts
April 30, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Communities that are isolated from the mainstream population often develop distinct, rich cultures, based on a firmly established set of values and practices. There are many examples of these communities in Canada, from sea to sea to sea. Yet, a strong set of values is no guarantee that community or its culture will persist. And […]
Historical UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Can implementation be far behind?
October 15, 2009 by · 4 Comments
On September 13, 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This universal human rights instrument is a symbol of hope for the world’s 370 million indigenous people. It took 20 years of international negotiations to create this human rights instrument. Yet, the fun has only begun! […]
