The REP Here in Canada team respectfully acknowledges that our work takes place on the unceded traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations. We express gratitude for their ongoing stewardship of these lands, air, and waterways and hold deep respect for the language, traditions, and cultural practices of all Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.
We acknowledge the ravages and brutal inter-generational legacy of day schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the residential school system and are humbled by the resilience we are able to witness in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit survivors and their families. We accept unconditionally the findings of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and support all recommendations and Calls For Justice.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action give our organization the guidance and opportunity to bring newcomer and Indigenous communities together to share cultural experiences and histories to deepen one another’s understanding of past and present injustices, as well as to exchange traditional knowledge and important cultural practices.
In our continued effort to Indigenize our work and to meaningfully contribute to decolonization, we are committed to helping amplify Indigenous experiences and stories as we continue our own journey of learning and unlearning.