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Parts Known & Unknown: Exploring the Borders of Truth, Reconciliation and Redress

Every Child Matters

Parts Known & Unknown: Exploring the Borders of Truth, Reconciliation and Redress

W. Kamau Bell joined Anthony Bourdain in Kenya in what was to be the final season of the CNN series, Parts Unknown. Kamau has roots in Kenya and this was his first time travelling to the motherlands of his people, and he stated something that I thought was interesting. He said something like, “coming to Kenya, you know, it’s nice to have a diasporic-kind-of-connection, even though I did not come from Kenya, but I have roots in Kenya, and even if that frame that the connection was built through was colonialism.”

It made me think about what it would be like for someone like myself to travel to the ancestral homes of my people. Well, this is my home. Certainly, more than it is your home, and in this era of truth and reconciliation, it is now both my home as much as it is your home. I come from no other place in the world than from right here, diitiidʔaaʔtx̣ – Ditidaht, we are the Nuuchahnulth and the seas for miles of shoreline and all of the land on the western side of our Vancouver Island home, from Point No Point in the south to Brooks Peninsula in the north, is Nuuchahnulth territory, our haahuulthii.

In the conclusion of that episode with W. Kamau Bell in Parts Unknown, Tony narrates an epilogue, “Who gets to tell the stories? This is a question asked often. The answer in this case, for better or for worse, is I do, at least this time out. I do my best, I look, I listen, but in the end, I know it’s my story. Not Kamau’s, not Kenya’s, or Kenyans’. Those stories are yet to be heard.”

It’s important for colonial settlers, and for new settlers, to Canada to consider who you are and where you come from, and what it means to live in British Columbia, and to think about your own frame of reference as being truly Canadian, even if that frame that the connection was built through was colonialism. The context, the narrative, the history, the good or bad of it, the story of what it means to be Canadian is apart and a part of your individual and shared story as a British Columbian, as a Canadian, as an unwelcomed or welcomed colonial settler, and as a new settler. The stories that have yet to be heard, and are now starting in some ways to be told, is our story, my story, of what it means to be diitiidʔaaʔtx̣, to be Nuuchahnulth, to be First Nations, to be Indigenous, and to also be Canadian in this country and in this province.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a unique opportunity to bridge the divide of our individual and collective stories, our distinct and shared experiences, and our united effort to right and write a new history chaptered with the stories of a sincere determination to tell the truths of the past, to reaffirm and renew our commitments to reconcile all things oppressive, racist and insufferable, and to create an honest and just redress for all Indigenous – First Nations, Inuit, Métis – peoples. It would be momentous to proclaim someday that we all come from a country in which the frame that the connection was built through was equality, acceptance and compassion.

It’s fair to ask, “What will you do between October 1^st, 2022 and September 29^th, 2023, to recognize your part in this history, this story, and what will you actively do to shift the narrative?” We’re at an urgent time in our country’s history to thoughtfully and actively explore all parts known and unknown in our ongoing journey to come to terms with each other and with our past, and with the present day. I look forward to the work ahead this year, and I’ll look forward to us hearing each other’s stories next year and in the many years to come.

With Respect,

Derek Thompson – Thlaapkiituup
Indigenous Initiatives Advisor, Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

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“The time to make things happen is now. The time to seek out our individual and shared power is now.”

Read the Message from the Indigenous Initiatives Advisor, Derek Thompson – Thlaapkiituup, here

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Conflict Engagement

The UBC Office of Equity and Inclusion’s Conflict Engagement Initiative defines conflict as “a difference that matters.” When conflict arises within a group or team, it can be either constructive or destructive. When destructive, it can create division, shut down communication, and lead to resentment. Recognizing the signs of destructive conflict is key to addressing and preventing them. Ultimately, conflict engagement skills encourage reframing conflict as constructive—a pathway to innovation and stronger relationships—rather than a recipe for division and blame.

Conflict engagement skills are a set of interpersonal competencies and priorities that support constructive outcomes. These include, but are not limited to, the following interrelated skills:

Assertive communication
Active listening
Emotional intelligence, emotional regulation, and empathy
De-escalation techniques
Setting and respecting boundaries
Positive relationship cultivation and maintenance
Problem-solving under pressure
Feedback and critique delivery
Inclusive and equitable collaboration
Finding common ground
Building consensus
Negotiation and compromise

*Conflicts that violate healthy boundaries, such as unprofessional conduct, harassment, intimidation, or microaggressions, fall outside the scope of conflict engagement skills and require additional support resources.

The REDI team offers group education sessions designed to help departments, teams, and groups proactively build and strengthen their conflict engagement skills. These sessions enhance interpersonal skills for effective conflict engagement. In addition to proactive education, REDI provides real-time support for high-conflict, responsive situations following an incident. This support includes services such as one-on-one Conflict Coaching, Mediation, and Group Restorative Processes for affected parties. These responsive services aim to bring people together to address specific conflicts or challenges, repair relationships, and support groups in healing—ultimately helping them move toward proactive and positive action.

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A Tribute to the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair: Champion of Justice and Reconciliation

With deep respect and gratitude, we honour the life and legacy of the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Mazina Giizhik (One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky), who passed away on November 4, 2024. Mazina Giizhik’s legacy extends across generations, communities, and sectors, leaving an indelible impact on Indigenous rights, justice reform, and reconciliation in Canada.

The Canada flag (at Flag Pole Plaza) and the BC, Musqueam, and UBC flags on the UBC Vancouver campus, and the Canada, BC, Okanagan Nation Alliance and UBC flags at UBC Okanagan were lowered from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, November 10, 2024 for the national commemorative ceremony held in memory of the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, C.C., O.M., M.S.C.

Born on St. Peter’s Indian Reserve near Selkirk, Manitoba in 1951, Justice Sinclair rose from challenging beginnings and a childhood marked by racism to become a powerful advocate for Indigenous rights and justice. As one of Canada’s first Indigenous lawyers, he specialized in representing Indigenous communities in land claims and criminal defense. His early career experiences exposed him to the harsh realities of systemic racism, including being mistaken by a judge as the accused rather than the advocate. These encounters inspired him to publicly confront injustices within the legal system, advocating tirelessly for Indigenous rights and the fair treatment of Indigenous peoples.

Justice Sinclair was Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge, and Canada’s second. Over his distinguished career, he tirelessly advocated for Indigenous communities, fought systemic racism, and built vital bridges between Indigenous knowledge and Western institutions. Recognized with numerous honours, including the Order of Canada and nearly two dozen honorary degrees, Justice Sinclair was a steadfast champion of justice and reconciliation.

As Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), he led Canada in confronting the painful legacy of residential schools, producing 94 Calls to Action that continue to pave the way toward justice, healing, and understanding in all sectors. His leadership with the TRC has set a foundation that informs our ongoing commitment to justice, inclusion, reconciliation, Indigenization, and decolonization within the Faculty of Medicine and beyond.

In honour of his vision and enduring contributions, we encourage our community to reflect on the principles he championed and to continue the work he began. Justice Sinclair’s life and leadership remind us that reconciliation is an ongoing journey, calling for our collective commitment and action. As we remember and celebrate his legacy, let us work to build an inclusive and compassionate society that honours his vision for a just and equitable future.

May his memory continue to inspire meaningful change within our communities.

Famous Quotes for the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair

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Through the Lens: Portraits of Who We Are and Where We Come From

Join us on Tuesday, Nov 26^th, 2024 from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (PST), for “Through the Lens: Portraits of Who We Are and Where We Come From.” In this Indigenous Speakers Series session, we will have a conversation with Melody Charlie, a Nuu-Chah-Nulth photographer and guest curator of the Matriarchs Seen and Unseen exhibition at the Bill Reid Gallery. In this discussion, you will hear from an unapologetic photographer and First Nations health advocate as she shares her thoughts on the processes of truth, reconciliation, and redress.

Join us virtually on Tuesday, Nov 26^th, 2024 from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (PST), for “Through the Lens: Portraits of Who We Are and Where We Come From.” This virtual event is presented by the Indigenous Speakers Series.

Speaker Bio

Melody Charlie,
Photographer,
Guest Curator | Matriarchs Seen and Unseen, Exhibition, Bill Reid Gallery, March – June 2023

Melody Charlie is a mother first, a professional photographer second, and a passionate health advocate third. Having spent her entire adult life healing personally and working in the health field professionally, she is committed to the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples.

As an artist, Melody uses photography to expose unapologetic truths about this so-called country that claims freedom. With years of experience in healing & the health field, she has heard countless stories and secrets of this country and its Christianity, which somehow seeks to forgive all sins committed on stolen land. Like many others from her generation, she is not nearly as forgiving as her grandparents, and thankfully so.

She proudly calls Ahousat home and is learning to keep a better balance between the never-ending fires and fights, while remembering to tend to the waters with unity.

Moderator

Derek K Thompson – Čaabať Bookwilla | Suhiltun, Director, Indigenous Engagement

Description

When I asked Melody to be a speaker for this year’s series, she said, “I’m not sure if I am a fit because I got s#@t to say and it ain’t pretty.” I replied, “Awesome. We want to hear what you have to say.”

I am fascinated with the photography of Melody Charlie, and I am equally captivated by Melody Charlie as an unapologetic co-conspirator who speaks up for all of those people in our communities who are challenged by some disadvantage because of a neo-colonial force. She is a force of advocacy and determination to strengthen both individual and collective resolve for our people to heal, to be good to each other, to be kind to those less fortunate and caught up in some kind of addiction, and to embrace adversity in our communities with love and compassion.

John Webber was an artist on the expeditions of Captain James Cook in the mid-1700s, and he created a body of work capturing historical images of first contact with Nuu-chah-nulth people along the west coast of Vancouver Island. From those pictures, you can be confident that our people weren’t merely surviving but were, in fact, thriving. From those very same images, you can also see what’s missing—what we do not see in any of those historical contexts is our people managing Type 2 diabetes, our young people taking their own lives due to some form of social pressure or opioid addiction, or our girls and women marked with the bruises of domestic violence, rape, or murder. I often think about what kinds of images would be taken today inside our communities and what stories they would tell in relation to our health and the connection to our identity, culture, language, and sense of belonging.

Melody has worked tirelessly in the arenas of photography and First Nations health, and we’re fortunate to have her as a speaker to share her unique perspectives and experiences. Her own sense of vulnerability, purpose, and determination are captured in the photos she’s taken inside our communities, and we’ll take an intimate look at what she thinks about the processes of truth, reconciliation, and redress.

Topic: Through the Lens: Portraits of Who We Are and Where We Come From

Date: Tuesday, Nov 26^th, 2024

Time: 12:00 – 1:30 PM (PST)