Reconciliation Toolkit: Ideas for Good Process

Published September 23, 2020

At its core, reconciliation is about relationship. The TRC explains that reconciliation means “establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people in this country.” Reconciliation is a process of being together in a new and better way.

These suggestions for building good process are excerpted from our resource Building Better Relationships: A Reconciliation Toolkit. Download the full resource to learn more about how you and your co-op community can help work towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.

• Develop a land acknowledgement that reflects the Indigenous peoples and territory you’re located on and explain your work towards reconciliation. Use your land acknowledgment at housing co-op meetings and gatherings. Continue to adjust and adapt the acknowledgment as your work evolves.
• Find ways to share the resources you have. Lend your space or human resources (volunteers) to an Indigenous organization or reconciliation initiatives.
• Find advisors from the Indigenous Community with whom you can build a relationship. Through these relationships, seek guidance and feedback on your reconciliation work.
• Consider the purchasing and decision-making processes of your co-op and how they could support reconciliation (see Call to Action #92).
• With humility and respect, take time to learn the protocols that are important in your territory, particularly as they relate to relationships or gatherings you may engage in.
• Always have food!

Click here to download this list as a printable PDF.

Example:

Kaslo Gardens Housing Co-op is located on the unceded Coast Salish Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh peoples in Vancouver. Kaslo Gardens partnered with Indigenous leaders to organize a Kairos blanket exercise, panel discussion and youth workshop. These events were opened to the larger co-operative community to engage co-ops in exploring policies and practices that could be employed within co-ops, such as social procurement of Indigenous services.

If your co-op is taking action on reconciliation, we’d love to hear about it. Let us know at info@chfcanada.coop.