PC politicians want to experience circle for reconciliation

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This article was published 12/12/2018 (1961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A minor funding announcement took on added excitement Thursday when the province’s Indigenous relations minister, Eileen Clarke, said she intends to sign up cabinet and caucus colleagues to form their own circle for reconciliation.

Organizers and past participants of the grassroots project, Circles for Reconciliation, were at the legislature expecting Clarke to announce $25,000 to defray the cost of organizing more circles and strengthen reconciliation efforts that started in 2016.

Clarke made the funding announcement, as anticipated. Then she surprised onlookers by saying the circles have sparked considerable interest within the Conservative caucus and provincial cabinet of Premier Brian Pallister.

“I’ve had colleagues and ministers say they want to be a part of it so I think it’s time to get on board,” Clarke said, adding she intends to start a circle of reconciliation, probably in March, at the start of the next legislative session. Details have yet to be worked out.

The circles are made up of 10 people, including five Indigenous people, plus two facilitators who take the group through 10 educational sessions on topics ranging from the meaning of the land for Indigenous people to historical and cultural topics including residential schools, intergenerational trauma, the pass system and the ’60s scoop.

When the funding request crossed her desk, Clarke was inspired by the Circles of Reconciliation, which have support from the Winnipeg Foundation and the federal government, to put the concept into practice.

“The premier was very enthusiastic about it and I’ve had colleagues come up to me afterward, saying they’d very much like to be involved,” Clarke said. “I expect I’ll have a waiting list.”

Clarke explained she’s learned a lot since Pallister appointed her to the portfolio.

“We have discussions within our caucus and cabinet on Indigenous issues and not everybody has had the opportunity I’ve had over the last two years to work with Indigenous people,” Clarke said afterward.

“I’ve had so many positive outcomes in the last two years, meetings with chiefs and councils. I’ve spent a lot of time in their communities. I’ve spent two full days at the Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng learning about ceremony and culture,” Clarke said. Turtle Lodge, a setting for elders to conduct traditional ceremonies, is located at Sagkeeng First Nation, 120 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

Clarke said she’s taken her experiences back to cabinet and discussed them with her colleagues, including the premier. The Conservative caucus has also reached out.

“We’ve had presentations within our caucus with (Indigenous advocate and filmmaker) Lisa Meeches on ceremonial dances and that, so our colleagues will understand the Indigenous ways,” she added.

The circles are voluntary forums that started in Winnipeg two years ago as a way for non-Indigenous people to learn about Indigenous history, culture and practices and relations in Canada.

They’ve been held in rural Manitoba and Winnipeg. There’s also been interest in southern Alberta, the first circle in Toronto starts after the holidays, and organizers here have a Skype date with prospective participants in Dawson Creek.

“People are really thirsty for reconciliation,” said Raymond Currie, who is the project’s founder and a dean emeritus with the faculty of arts at the University of Manitoba.

“It’s a good vehicle for non-native people who want to get engaged with our people to break down some of the myths and unknowns out there,” said Clayton Sandy, a member of Sioux Valley First Nation in western Manitoba who works closely with Currie as the Circle for Reconciliation’s Indigenous ambassador.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca