BUAPC outlines new strategic plan
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/09/2024 (446 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council is launching a new strategic plan for 2024 through 2029 with four key components, city council heard at its Monday meeting.
The organization’s Indigenous community co-ordinator, Natashia Marion, said she has been in her role for almost a year and preparation for the plan predates her arrival.
The four main components are indigenization, public awareness and education, pursuing relationships and advocacy, and maintaining a community presence and engagement.
Marion said that achieving these goals will involve amplifying local Indigenous voices, helping organize and attending Indigenous events in the community and working with community partners like the Brandon Bear Clan.
While at the podium, Marion also outlined BUAPC’s plans for Truth and Reconciliation Week, which will run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4 at the Riverbank Discovery Centre.
This is the first year that Sept. 30 will be recognized as a provincial statutory holiday commemorating harms done by the residential school system.
However, it’s the fourth time that Brandon has held Truth and Reconciliation Week. Marion pointed out that the number four is sacred to Indigenous people.
The planning committee for this year’s TRC Week is made up of more than 30 people. The learning that happens during the week, including how to build teepees, is something that Marion said can only happen outdoors and not in a classroom because it is land based.
A big question people have about TRC Week is whether they’re allowed to come and participate in the events even if they’re not Indigenous. She said it is respectful to come and learn more about Indigenous traditions and culture.
“It’s a warm welcome for everybody,” Marion said.
Coun. Kris Desjarlais, BUAPC’s chair, said Sept. 30 will be the biggest day of the event. That day, an Orange Shirt Day walk will be held starting at 10 a.m. after a sunrise pipe ceremony with elder Frank Tacan and knowledge keeper Tim Bone.
At 4 p.m. that day, B.C.-based chief Andrew George, Jr. will host a lesson on Indigenous food sovereignty from a West Coast perspective.
For the first time, this year’s TRC Week will host a canoe event with the help of Brandon Police Service Const. Amanda Conway, who helped secure canoes for the event. That will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Through provincial funding for Orange Shirt Day, Marion said there will be a day camp for children where they will learn archery skills, how to make bannock and more.
From Oct. 1 to Oct. 3, students from the Brandon School Division, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Southwest Horizon School Division and Rolling River School Division will take day trips for lessons at the riverbank.
For those wanting to buy either orange shirts commemorating residential school survivors or blue shirts for the sisters in spirit, Marion said they can be found at the Brandon Friendship Centre.
More information on TRC Week can be found online at facebook.com/BUAPCBDN.
A man who introduced himself as White Blackwolf, though he was given the government name Douglas Gerrard, came to the podium after the presentation to speak.
He introduced himself as a day school survivor and said his parents are residential school survivors.
Recently, he said a local ceremony was held in which an impact statement from residential schools survivors was read out. He said very few people attended and Mayor Jeff Fawcett left 10 minutes in.
“We remember the Holocaust, we remember 9/11,” he said. “On Sept. 30, we remember those who didn’t come home.”
He said it has been difficult to have Indigenous voices heard at the table in Manitoba, except for some exceptions like Premier Wab Kinew and Desjarlais.
He urged council members to attend ceremonies on Sept. 30.
Fawcett was absent from the meeting. In his place, Coun. Glen Parker (Ward 9) served as chair in his role as deputy mayor.
» cslark@brandonsun.com
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