New Relationships Created in Canadian Roots Exchange

While we watch the slow progress of the federal government to decolonize its relationship with Indigenous people in Canada, a whole new relationship is being built between Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people in this country.  It doesn’t make the headlines in the same way but it is a story that is growing and building strength and it is the beginning of our new story I believe.

I recently was sent an email from the First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Association of Ontario that gave a link to a news story from Inside Toronto by Justin Skinner. 

The story is about a mural that was painted by Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth that came together through the Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE).   This organization has been working since 2008 to bring youth together from various backgrounds with a focus on Indigenous youth to promote dialogue and respect for all.

The mural entitled Truth and Reconciliation was painted on a shipping container at the Native Canadian Centre in Toronto which has been repurposed to create a rental space to provide jobs and training for Indigenous young people.  This new building is called the ENAGB Youth Cedar Basket Social Enterprise building.

The CRE has a Wall to Action Collective which organized the mural based on Indigenous themes with funding from ArtReach Toronto.  “We wanted the mural to show what we value as young people,” said Sage Petahtegoose of CRE in the Inside Toronto article.

It took a while to find the location for the proposed mural but it all came together when Edward Cyr from the NCC told CRE that they were looking for someone to paint a mural on the new building.

Chief Lady Bird was one of the mentors of this mural and is one of the artists that took part in the Call to Action 83 project.  She was quoted in the Inside Toronto article as saying, “When we think about reconciliation, we want to find ways to connect and move forward in a good way.  We want to make people think about their actions.”

The mural is done in the Woodlands style of painting.  The baby in the mural reminds people to think ahead to future generations.  The seven feathers are for the seven grandfather teachings of wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility and truth.

Canadian Roots Exchange is described on their website as “a community of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth committed to building honest and equitable relationships.”  

Since 2009, CRE has collaborated with dozens of host communities to build face-to-face relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.  CRE’s Youth Reconciliation Initiatives have taken place in Vancouver, Sudbury-Manitoulin, London, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.  In this program volunteer leaders are trained in team building, facilitation, conflict resolution, the processes of reconciliation and decolonization, Indigenous histories and contemporary issues facing First Nations, Inuit, Metis and other diverse communities in Canada. 

These youth leaders then have an 8 month contract to coordinate reconciliation programs in their communities including intergenerational events, workshop facilitation and exchange coordination. On their website you can see youtube videos of some of the exchange programs and a map of Canada highlighting the programs.

This is only one of many programs that are in action with young people across Canada.  While the politicians labour under the heavy weight of colonial history and law, our young people are slipping from under this weight and doing what young people do best, making new relationships, listening to each other and creating new stories that are about healing and respect.  I feel deep gratitude to all the youth who are taking part in these reconciliactions that will create our new story, person by person.