A group of people gathered in a circle, in a large open room. There is a blanket holding several items in the centre of the circle.

Reconciliation for businesses, non-profit organizations and all interested individuals

The Our Heart Learning project is offering four learning opportunities to explore reconciliation, anti-racism and building a healthy community in Campbell River. 

The first workshop is a virtual event facilitated by Mary Catherine Williams on Thursday March 24th. She described it as a journey of reconciliation for nonprofits. 

This will be followed by a series of workshops about responding to racist incidents. 

Finally Kathy Camilleri will be holding an in-person, or virtual, event about building bridges to understanding. 

“All the workshops are free and people can register online and they can do that during the event. We have space in all our workshops.  Everyone is welcome,” explained Williams, who is both an organizer of the project and Executive Director of Volunteer Campbell River.

“This is a heart journey and that’s why the project is called Q̓aq̓uƛ̓aʔinē sa Noqe, which is the Laich Kwil Tach words for ‘learning in your heart’ or ‘heart and learning.’ To me, the essence of this is that we need to begin to understand from a heart perspective, from an emotional perspective, not a head perspective necessarily, a way to move forward together, to be safe and healthy in our communities. It is about changing our ways of thinking and knowing, on both sides.”

Mary Ruth Snyder, Executive Director of the Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce, said, “Canada as a country came to an abrupt halt last spring, with the news of the discovery of children’s graves at former residential schools. I think for many Canadians while they may have suspected, that was the case, they didn’t know for sure and it is easily set aside as hearsay.  When it became abundantly clear that it was in fact true at not just one, but several locations across the country. I think the reality of the nation’s experience over the last 150 years came into focus for those of us who are not First Nations. The only way for us to move forward as a society, holistically, is to acknowledge what happened, to listen to those who are able to share their stories, acknowledge their truths, and only then can we move forward with the First Nations towards reconciliation? These workshops will assist in that process.”

Thanh Tazumi, Sanchit Mittal, and Naomi Wolfe – presenters for the A.R.T. workshop – Photo courtesy Our Heart Learning project

The Workshops: 

  1. A Journey of Understanding: Steps on the Path of Reconciliation for Non-Profits‘ – Facilitated by Mary Catherine Williams – An online event Thursday March 24 from 9:30am to 12:00pm ~ Click here to REGISTER
  2. Anti-Racism Response Training Four Part Series‘ – Facilitated by Thanh Tazumi, Naomi Wolfe, and Sanchit Mittal – an online event Wednesdays – April 6, 13, 20, 27 from 2:00 to 4:00pm ~ Click here to REGISTER
  3. Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village‘ – Facilitated by Kathi Camilleri – either attend in person (LocationTBD) ~Tuesday April 5 from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Lunch Provided ~ Click here to REGISTER ~ participate online Friday April 22 from 9:00am to 4:00pm ~ Click here to REGISTER
  4. ‘Effective Engagement with Indigenous People’ – Facilitated by Nick Chowdhury and Sonora Morin of ‘Wi’la’mola Consulting – attend in person (Location TBD) on Wednesday, April 20 from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Lunch provided ~ Click here to REGISTER

“Mary Simon, who’s our new Governor General, describes reconciliation as getting to know one another. I think that’s just such a beautiful concept. It’s really about building relationships that we haven’t had, healthy relationships between our nations. In lots of cases, people have worked together and there have been opportunities and in some ways it’s gone well, but overall, there’s still quite a disconnect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians,” said Williams.

‘The village’ – Photo courtesy Kathi Camilleri

In the podcast above, she talks about:

  • How Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities tend to approach projects and problems in very different manners. (The process vs building relationships)
  • “Reconciliation is one part of our story, but the way we think about people, our attitudes and our opinions that we’ve all grown up with really has to change and we have to reflect on those attitudes and opinions in order to make change. That’s where the anti-racism workshops come in.”
  • What processes do businesses and non-profits have that might turn an Indigenous person away? Or make someone feel that they don’t belong?
  • Her personal experiences, as well as examples from the experiences of others.
  • How the Open Heart Learning Project came into being.

FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Mary Catherine Williams ~ Executive Director, Volunteer Campbell River 

250-287-8111  |  execdirect@volunteercr.ca 

Top photo credit: A “Village Workshop” at the Klahoose New Relationship Building on Cortes Island during December 2013 – Photo by Johnny Hanuse

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