Reconciliation Action Group YYC

Indigenous people worldwide have been Jeaders in advocating for environmental protection. Here in Canada, groups like Keepers of the Water, Raven, and Indigenous Climate Action have made vital contributions to keeping the land we live on healthy and habitable

In 2021, Canada officially accepted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Some of the rights listed are the right to be free of discrimination, the right to self-4 determination, the rightsto traditional lands, territories, and resources, the right to conservation and protection of the environment of their lands, territories, and resources; and the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for the development or use of their lands, territories, and other resources.

However, Canada has struggled with keeping its commitments to Indigenous people for instance, the recently passed Bill 5 in Ontario limits opportunities for First Nations consultation and consent to development projects: the fact that ten years later, only fourteen of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee have been completed, the ongoing epidemic of police violence against First Nations people; and the fact that as of March 2025, there are still 35 First Nations communities under long-term boil water advisories.

Indigenous people's struggle for rights and dignity is taking place not only in Canada, but worldwide from the genocide in Palestine to the conflicts in Sudan, Congo, and Tigray, Indigenous peoples are fighting for their rights, their dignity, and their very lives.

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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

August 9th is the international Day of the World's Indigenous people. it was first pronounced by the UN General Assembly in 1994 and commemorated the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

August 9th is the international Day of the World's Indigenous people. it was first pronounced by the UN General Assembly in 1994 and commemorated the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

"Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, Indigenous Peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples." https://www.un.org/en/ observances/indigenous-day

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Indigenous Perspectives Society. “How to Be an Ally to Indigenous People.” ipsociety.ca/news/page/7/.

Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network. “Indigenous Ally Toolkit.” gallery.mailchimp.com/86d28ccd43d4....

Suggested Resources for Allyship: Amnesty International. “10 Ways to Be a Genuine Ally to Indigenous Communities.” https://www.amnesty.org.au/10-ways-to-be-an-ally-to-indigenous-communities/. Dr. Lynn Gehl. “Ally Bill of Responsibilities.” http://www.lynngehl.com/uploads/5/0/0/4/5004954/ally_bill_of_responsibilities_poster.pdf. Indigenous Perspectives Society. “How to Be an Ally to Indigenous People.” https://ipsociety.ca/news/page/7/. Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network. “Indigenous Ally Toolkit.” https://gallery.mailchimp.com/86d28ccd43d4be0cfc11c71a1/files/102bf040-e221-4953-a9ef9f0c5efc3458/Ally_email.pdf.

Suggested Resources for Allyship:

Amnesty International. “10 Ways to Be a Genuine Ally to Indigenous Communities.” www.amnesty.org.au/10-ways-to-b....

Dr. Lynn Gehl. “Ally Bill of Responsibilities.” www.lynngehl.com/uploads/5/0/....

Transcripts, testimonies, and public statements offered during the Truth-Gathering Process, available at www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/transcripts/ and www.mmiwgffada.ca/part-ii-and-....

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Their Voices Will Guide Us: Student and Youth Engagement Guide. www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/publications/.

Calls for Justice - Calls for Justice for All Canadians SUGGESTED RESOURCES FOR LEARNING: NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS. OUR WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SACRED: THE INTERIM REPORT OF THE NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO MISSING AND MURDERED WOMEN AND GIRLS. NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS. THEIR VOICES WILL GUIDE US: STUDENT AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT GUIDE. TRANSCRIPTS, TESTIMONIES, AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS OFFERED DURING THE TRUTH-GATHERING PROCESS.

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Our Women and Girls Are Sacred: The Interim Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Girls. www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/publications/.

Calls for Justice - Calls for Justice for All Canadians 15.7 CREATE TIME AND SPACE FOR RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON RESPECT AS HUMAN BEINGS, SUPPORTING AND EMBRACING DIFFERENCES WITH KINDNESS, LOVE, AND RESPECT. LEARN ABOUT INDIGENOUS PRINCIPLES OF RELATIONSHIP SPECIFIC TO THOSE NATIONS OR COMMUNITIES IN YOUR LOCAL AREA AND WORK, AND PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE IN ALL OF YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. 15.8 HELP HOLD ALL GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE TO ACT ON THE CALLS FOR JUSTICE, AND TO IMPLEMENT THEM ACCORDING TO THE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES WE SET OUT.

Calls for Justice - Calls for Justice for All Canadians 15.5 CONFRONT AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST RACISM, SEXISM, IGNORANCE, HOMOPHOBIA, AND TRANSPHOBIA, AND TEACH OR ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME, WHEREVER IT OCCURS: IN YOUR HOME, IN YOUR WORKPLACE, OR IN SOCIAL SETTINGS. 15.6 PROTECT, SUPPORT, AND PROMOTE THE SAFETY OF WOMEN, GIRLS, AND 2SLGBTQQIA PEOPLE BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND RESPECTING THE VALUE OF EVERY PERSON AND EVERY COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE RIGHT OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS, AND 2SLGBTQQIA PEOPLE TO GENERATE THEIR OWN, SELF-DETERMINED SOLUTIONS.

Calls for Justice - Calls for Justice for All Canadians 15.3 DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE AND READ THE FINAL REPORT. LISTEN TO THE TRUTHS SHARED, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE BURDEN OF THESE HUMAN AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, AND HOW THEY IMPACT INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS, AND 2SLGBTQQIA PEOPLE TODAY. 15.4 USING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND SOME OF THE RESOURCES SUGGESTED, BECOME A STRONG ALLY. BEING A STRONG ALLY INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST TOLERANCE; IT MEANS ACTIVELY WORKING TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND TO SUPPORT OTHERS IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP AND ENCOUNTER IN WHICH YOU PARTICIPATE

Calls for Justice - Calls for Justice for All Canadians WE CALL ON ALL CANADIANS TO: 15.1 DENOUNCE AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS, AND 2SLGBTQQIA PEOPLE. 15.2 DECOLONIZE BY LEARNING THE TRUE HISTORY OF CANADA AND INDIGENOUS HISTORY IN YOUR LOCAL AREA. LEARN ABOUT AND CELEBRATE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ HISTORY, CULTURES, PRIDE, AND DIVERSITY, ACKNOWLEDGING THE LAND YOU LIVE ON AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO LOCAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, BOTH HISTORICALLY AND TODAY.

Calls for Justice - Calls for Justice for All Canadians As this report has shown, and within every encounter, each person has a role to play in order to combat violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. Beyond those Calls aimed at governments or at specific industries or service providers, we encourage every Canadian to consider how they can give life to these Calls for Justice.

We will break it down into smaller posts to help settlers understand why it is important for every single one of us to speak up and we will give you tools to help understand. Starting with ourselves, what education are we missing? Have you made yourself, your kids and your circles aware of the numerous reports and recommendations made? Today we share the Calls for Justice for All Canadians from the Final Report from the National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice. The full Report can be found at Mmiwg-ffada.ca

The full Report can be found at Mmiwg-ffada.ca

On August 5th we issued a public statement about a recent council meeting in Alberta, and yes it was long, but it could have been longer. Much longer. It is important to talk about; this takes place daily across Canada from seemingly innocent comments to radicalized hate speech, from coffee shops to council meetings. This stems from a lack of understanding and education about the role of Treaty partners and Canada’s consistent failure to uphold and honor Treaties made by the Crown on their behalf.

On August 5th we issued a public statement about a recent council meeting in Alberta.

Today we share the Calls for Justice for All Canadians from the Final Report from the National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice.

The full Report can be found at Mmiwg-ffada.ca

Red Rebel Armour Inc Restoring Hope Through Fashion: Support Red Rebel Armour’s Next Chapter

Restoring Hope Through Fashion: Support Red Rebel Armour’s Next Chapter

chuffed.org/project/red-...

Support Indigenous Creators! Make sure to follow Native Calgarian Podcast – don’t forget to compensate for the education and share what you learn in your circles! @nativecalgarianpodcast

Support Indigenous Creators!

Make sure to follow Native Calgarian Podcast – don’t forget to compensate for the education and share what you learn in your circles! @nativecalgarian.bsky.social

Donate to Support for Samantha Victim of YYC Garbage Truck Incident, organized by Tynika Strongeagle Hi, my name is Tynika Strongeagle. I am fundraising for my si… Tynika Strongeagle needs your support for Support for Samantha Victim of YYC Garbage Truck Incident

Go Fund Me Link for victim with life altering injuries from Calgary Garbage Truck
www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...

Donate to Support Ditidaht carver Linda Williams after RCMP assault, organized by Kaleb Morrison I am a friend of Linda Williams and am creating this fundrais… Kaleb Morrison needs your support for Support Ditidaht carver Linda Williams after RCMP assault

Ditidaht carver Linda Williams was assaulted by the North Cowichan RCMP during a wrongful stop on the side of the highway near Duncan BC.

www.gofundme.com/f/support-di...

Settler Saturday – Community Care - Treaty partners Martin Heavyhead Jr. has always worked for others and is raising funds for a tipi to live in. His Linktree: linktr.ee/Mheav… His art for sale: instagram.com/marty… Community Care/Donations accepted: gofundme.com/f/get… TikTok: tiktok.com/@mart…

Martin Heavyhead Jr. has always worked for others and is raising funds for a tipi to live in.

His Linktree: linktr.ee/Mheav…
His art for sale: instagram.com/marty���

Community Care/Donations accepted: gofundme.com/f/get…
TikTok: tiktok.com/@mart…

Please follow link and share to help find Samuel Bird. He's been missing since June 1st, 2025, and has not been in contact with anyone. FB Link in description. Petition Link in description. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1714682022504971/ https://chng.it/BrtzPq9gRy

Please follow link and share to help find Samuel Bird.
He's been missing since June 1st, 2025, and has not been in contact with anyone.

www.facebook.com/groups/17146...

chng.it/BrtzPq9gRy

Settler Saturday – Community Care - Treaty partners Treaty Partners that understand how discrimination and legislative poverty function as part of the violence of settler colonialism participate in resource distribution. We share links to support weekly as do many others; make sure you are participating while withholding your resources from systems of harm. See the links in the description for some important places to support.

Settler Saturday – Community Care - Treaty partners

Treaty Partners that understand how discrimination and legislative poverty function as part of the violence of settler colonialism participate in resource distribution.

See the links for some important places to support.

APTN News Brief: August 6, 2025—Cree candidate for NDP takes on federal Conservative leader in by-election for Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot Our lead story: in the by-election for the federal Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot—a vote set for August 18—NDP candidate Katherine Swampy of Samson Cree Nation takes on Conservative ...

Cree candidate for NDP takes on federal Conservative leader in by-election for Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot.

Hear more on APTN News Brief:

Really honoured to be a guest on @gen7path2025 ! (Please follow and boost!) Mahsi cho for having me! https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/gertiegoat/episodes/RIEL-CREE-Podcaster—Interview-with-the-Native-Calgarian-Podcaster-e36ggh3

Really honoured to be a guest on gen7path2025 ! (Please follow on Insta and boost!) Mahsi cho for having me! creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

RECONCILIATION ACTION GROUP OF CALGARY/MOHKINSTSIS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lac La Biche County – Council Statements July 2025 We stand in solidarity with Beaver Lake Cree Nation and their right to live free from racism and hate on their homelands. We echo the calls from Beaver Lake Cree Nation and the Mayor of Lac La Biche County calling for the Ward 1 councillor to step down, as well as seek an education about the Treaty 6 lands they live on, and obligations owed to their Treaty partners. We cannot be good neighbours when we live with hateful spirits. During two recent council meetings for Lac La Biche County, we found several colonial tactics used not only when discussing relations with Beaver Lake Cree Nation but also in how white councillors interacted with racialized members of the Council and County staff. In this statement we will speak about the most recent and publicly discussed meeting from July 22, 2025, where Lac La Biche County Ward 1 councillor made the following statements. “Beaver Lake Cree nation does not pay taxes; they have never given as much as a plug nickel to anything that this county has done.” “Contract we need that number 2. When they pay for it as well, because we will be held liable going forward, they already have litigation with the federal government, the provincial government and maybe you guys’ better check that out and now it’ll be municipal.” “And when I say we, I mean Lac La Biche County taxpayers, we pay for dancers to come from Northwest Territories, we pay for prayer people, we paid for acknowledgement people, we paid for a fiddler, we pay, WE have paid! And then we pay for rent at a hall that, we got lots of spaces here, but no we are paying because it’s at the parks hall. This is wrong.” “They (Beaver Lake Cree Nation) have more dollars than we can count, and we contribute to that fund, federally and provincially we pay taxes.”

“Why would I be doing somebody else’s road unless we were under contract to do so and never have to step foot there again. I’m hearing through the grapevine that we already snowplough and all that kind of stuff, why don’t we know about this? I don’t ever recall anything coming to us about snowplowing at the Cree Nation.” “When the conversation came up to remove me from my committees we had a lawyer, very simple, simple, where’s our lawyer on this one, where’s our lawyers my question.” Ward 1 councillor appears to be radicalized and spreading misinformation and propaganda talking points perpetuating colonial violence. Demanding a lawyer present and equating a decision to extend cold mix 100 feet on an ongoing road project with her removal from committees and charges of violence including a weapons charge by implying Beaver Lake Cree Nation is a litigious Nation is inflammatory and fear mongering to incite hate. We want to emphasize how much Indigenous peoples and their sovereign Nations in fact subsidize non-Indigenous communities due to historical and ongoing land dispossession and resource extraction. Canadian government policies and practices result in insufficient funding for Indigenous communities and the lack of capitalization for Indigenous development on the basis of Indigenous principles. The Ward 1 councillor along with the councillors for Wards 3 and 5 were using well known colonial tactics including tone, protocols, policy and procedures in attempts to disguise their collective distain for Beaver Lake Cree Nation. We ask that all three councillors engage in attending anti-racism training urgently to avoid further harm in their interactions within the communities they work for and live in.

This includes understanding and following Treaty rights and obligations, the First Nations, Inuit or Métis laws and practices in the region they are serving as well as the federal and international rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada included call 57 that states: 57. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. Another topic covered during these recent meetings was an upcoming gas project in the area, this was welcomed, and the mayor and council requested the use of locals for workers and to support the local economy. As councils include Truth and Reconciliation education including the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and Two spirit, plans can be put in place to protect the most vulnerable when man camps and transient workers enter an area. A recent report released on the “New research highlights tragic intersection between the disappearance of Indigenous women and human trafficking in Canada” (Thomson Reuters July, 28, 2025) “Despite being only 5% of the population, Indigenous women and girls account for over 50% of trafficking victims. The significant over-representation of Indigenous women in human trafficking and disappearances prompted this research**.” Information on economic reconciliation can be found from The National Indigenous Economic Strategy (NIES) for Canada that was launched in 2022 as a living document to provide Pathways to Socioeconomic Parity for Indigenous Peoples.

We expect to see the Lac La Biche current and future council take these matters very seriously, make amends with Beaver Lake Cree Nation and urgently acquire the proper education on the responsibilities they hold to the original peoples of the area they are fortunate to reside and work. We hope this is an opportunity for all Canadian residents to learn from and take initiative to ensure we all fulfill our Treaty obligations, Truth and Reconciliation Calls for Action and earnestly live in a good relationship with First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples where we call home. Sincerely, The Reconciliation Action Group reconciliationactiongroupyyc@gmail.com IG @reconciliation_action_group

RECONCILIATION ACTION GROUP
OF CALGARY/MOHKINSTSIS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lac La Biche County - Council Statements July 2025

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Red Rebel Armour Inc Restoring Hope Through Fashion: Support Red Rebel Armour’s Next Chapter

Restoring Hope Through Fashion: Support Red Rebel Armour’s Next Chapter

chuffed.org/project/red-...

Support Indigenous Creators! Make sure to follow Native Calgarian Podcast – don’t forget to compensate for the education and share what you learn in your circles! @nativecalgarianpodcast Restoring Hope Through Fashion: Support Red Rebel Armour’s Next Chapter

Support Indigenous Creators!

Make sure to follow Native Calgarian Podcast – don’t forget to compensate for the education and share what you learn in your circles! @nativecalgarian.bsky.social

Settler Saturday – Treaty partners Treaty Partners that understand how discrimination and legislative poverty function as part of the violence of settler colonialism participate in resource distribution. We share links to support weekly as do many others; make sure you are participating while withholding your resources from systems of harm. See the links in the description for some important places to support.

Treaty Partners that understand how discrimination and legislative poverty function as part of the violence of settler colonialism participate in resource distribution.

We share links to support weekly as do many others.

See the links for some important places to support.

YouTube video by APTN News Report raising alarms: Indigenous women and girls overrepresented in trafficking | Truth & Politics

A report from this week highlights a link between MMIWG and human trafficking in Canada.

Despite being 5 per cent of the population, Indigenous women and girls account for over half of trafficking victims.

That’s on this week’s Truth & Politics podcast.

INTO THE LIGHT explores Human Trafficking in Indigenous Communities in Alberta. The documentary is designed to create awareness about our communities’ most misunderstood issue, and the way forward to put a stop to it.

Shared from @bearpaw_legal

This video contains difficult subject matter, including the targeting, luring, and exploitation of our young people. Traffickers target the young and vulnerable.
youtube.com/watch…