In response to the momentum of Canadians deeply grieved by the recoveries of the 215 residential school children at Kamloops Indian Residential School on May 27th, 2021, True North Aid created the Settler Discussion Series.
This is a free, ongoing educational tool.
Its purpose is to:
- provide a platform of discussion for individuals to engage in meaningful, reconciliatory dialogue,
- encourage individuals to begin their own journey of reconciliation through action,
- and to answer the Truth and Reconciliation’s 94 Calls to Action, specifically #54, and #s 62-65.
Participants are challenged by learning about current tensions and injustices against Indigenous people, and how these are a direct result of residential school history.
Topics addressed include Settler/White Privilege, Land, Residential Schools, and Allyship.
Each topic is covered in a weekly 1-1.5 hr session and can be hosted online or in-person.
A digital newsletter is emailed to participants with curated content regarding the next week’s topic. Participants can choose to read suggested articles, watch short videos, or listen to a related podcast or Indigenous musician.
Participants are strongly encouraged to commit to attending all sessions as each session builds upon the prior topic for a more complete understanding.
The content of this discussion series has been vetted by Indigenous advisors who speak into the reconciliatory work of True North Aid.
