Why is Cultural Competency Important? There are tangible benefits for organizations and institutions that incorporate a cultural competency framework within their operations. “Healthy workplaces are those which engage and retain workers leading to increased productivity. Companies that develop these workplace skills and competencies are better able to develop partnerships and business relationships with Indigenous people, […]
What is Cultural Competency? “The terms “cultural competency” and “cultural competence” or cultural proficiency have become important in recent years because they address issues that are inherent parts of pluralistic societies that are composed of different cultures. “Culture” is defined in many different ways, but all the definitions share common characteristics. The Western and Northern […]
Maps Maps reflect the diversity of Indigenous heritage, their connection to the land, and their existence over thousands of years from coast to coast to coast. Traditional Indigenous place names exist in many Canadian territories (for example: Kanata, Ottawa etc.) These names hold historical and ongoing importance to Indigenous peoples. It should be noted that […]
Timelines Indigenous peoples in North America have complex histories that precede and overlap European contact and colonization. Each First Nation, Inuit and Métis community has an experience that is unique to them. “Education will lead to understanding; understanding will lead to action. Education and understanding are going to be key to moving us forward.” -National […]
The Truth and Reconciliation Comission of Canada The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) overarching purposes are to reveal to Canadians the complex truth about the history and the ongoing legacy of the church-run residential schools, in a manner that fully documents the individual and collective harms perpetrated against Aboriginal peoples, and honours the resiliency and […]
Public Response to the Residential School Legacy Between 1986 and 2009, all of the Churches directly involved with the residential school system made public apologies for the abuses, neglect and suffering the First Nations youth had experienced while under their care. Churches began to work with their congregations to address this issue and to work […]