A Free Public Workshop hosted by SNTC and TRU

July 26, 2016

PRESS RELEASE – “Find Your Call to Action – Embracing Reconciliation”

Secwepemc Nation (July 26, 2016): It has been one year since Canadians were introduced to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action. One challenge for all Canadians has been to see themselves within this work and to discover how they can affect change.  All community members including teenagers, parents, community members and leaders are invited to this free public workshop to learn about concrete, practical, manageable and personal things they can do to respond to the TRC.

Dr. Rebecca Johnson, professor at the University of Victoria’s Faculty of Law and Academic Director of the Indigenous Law Research Unit will be facilitating a one day workshop at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) on August 10th 2016, in partnership with the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council (SNTC) and TRU’s Aboriginal Education Department.

“It’s time we work together to find shared ground in reconciliation” expressed Kukpi7 (Chief) Wayne Christian, Tribal Chief of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council. “We are calling on all nations – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – to work with one another, to understand one another, and find their call to action. It is everyone’s responsibility to understand and embrace reconciliation in this country.  This was expressed by our ancestors in 1910 to then Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier – “These people wish to be partners with us in our country. We must, therefore, be the same as brothers to them, and live as one family. We will share equally in everything—half and half—in land, water and timber, etc. What is ours will be theirs, and what is theirs will be ours. We will help each other to be great and good.” – and it still holds true today.”

The TRC released its 94 recommendations, or “Calls to Action”, in 2015.  These recommendations were born out of 6 years of dialogue, three commissioners, and over 6,750 stories from residential school survivors and witnesses. “People will be introduced to the history of the TRC and will leave comfortable knowing what it is all about”, said Dr. Johnson.  “This workshop will empower individuals to make change from where they are at and using the resources, time and energy they possess.”

Kukpi7 Christian emphasized “We have the recommendations. It’s time for Canadians to prepare for implementation. This workshop is about sharing knowledge in a way that resonates with people so that they feel informed and able to take their own action towards reconciliation. In the words of Chief Wilton Littlechild: This is not an Aboriginal Issue, this is a Canadian issue.”

Event Details

Date: August 10th, 2016

Time: 9am – 4pm

Location: Irving K. Barber Centre, House of Learning Building, TRU, Kamloops BC

Registration required – please email: artassistant@shuswapnation.org

Hosted by: Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, TRU Aboriginal Education, and UVic Indigenous Law Research Unit

For media inquiries, please contact:  

Kukpi7 Wayne Christian, Tribal Chief

Shuswap Nation Tribal Council

Kukpi7_christian@splatsin.ca

Reconciliation Workshop Poster



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