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Wicihitowin Aboriginal Engagement Conference

Press Release

Members of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner attended the fourth annual Wicihitowin Aboriginal Engagement Conference in Saskatoon, Oct. 17 and 18.

Among the plenary speakers was Senator Murray Sinclair, former Truth and Reconciliation Chairperson.

He spoke about the need to figure out new ways to do businesses, that in business Reconciliation is about recognizing prior existing rights of Indigenous people.

“We always knew that reconciliation would be harder work than just finding the truth,” he said during the address.

“‘We need proactive change to deal with systemic racism, and we need places more accepting of cultural practices.”

During a plenary on grief, Brenda Reynolds, an Indigenous mental health consultant spoke on adapting and shifting to get stabilized after trauma.

“We need to learn and express our feelings related to loss and grief. We need to find resolution and peace.”

Survivors of Indian Residential Schools joined speaker Eugene Arcand on stage. Arcand talked about about the importance of an apology from the Catholic Church, emphasizing it wasn’t about politics.

“Come across the water, step onto Indigenous land and say sorry. That’s what is important to us,” he said.

“We thought we were alone. We all know now that we are not alone.”

Wicihitowin works to provide non-Indigenous organizations with resources to assist in engaging Indigenous people as employees and volunteers as well as supporting in incorporating Indigenous values within program and service delivery settings with the goal of creating culturally respectful organizations. This year marked the largest turnout for the continuously growing event.

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