JUST IN: Here’s our final summer Briefing Notes edition, with some light civic governance-leaning reading on topics like Jasper’s wildfires, urban park conservation, rethinking how we plan for heat in our cities, childcare and public space, AI and policing, and Generation Z and politics today, and human libraries. We’re also sharing a link to @FeministCampaignSchool’s upcoming training course for future mayors, councilors, and trustees. Happy long weekend reading!
Isabella Johnson
E-newsletter (July 2024)
JUST IN: Our latest Briefing Notes includes stories on voters backing populist parties, cashless societies, B.C.’s tax system, climate change education, and more.
E-newsletter (June 2024)
Here’s our June Briefing Notes edition, with stories about resilient communities, heat waves, decolonizing the seafood industry, and more…
E-newsletter (May 2024)
Here’s our May Briefing Notes edition, with stories about living wage, decriminalization, child care, and the toxic drug crisis and more…
E-newsletter (April 2024)
Here’s our April Briefing Notes edition, with stories about drug recriminalization, AI tools, land back, 15-minute cities, and more…
E-newsletter (January 2024)
Here’s our January Briefing Notes edition, with stories about public education, police body cams, accessibility in community design, devolution, and more…
E-newsletter (Best of 2023)
Thank you for another year of much-needed progress, collaboration and conversation around the most pressing issues facing the communities where we live. We continue to be inspired by your work and we look forward to continue supporting you in the new year. With 2024 right around the corner, we’d like to take this time to reflect on your top story picks from this year.
E-newsletter (November 2023)
Here’s our November Briefing Notes edition, with stories about COP 28, accessibility and public spaces, sustainable housing, Indigenous culture and the digital environment, and more…
E-newsletter (October 2023)
Here’s our October Briefing Notes edition, with stories about AI and Indigenous conservation efforts, natural gas bans, car-free cities, the climate crisis, and more…
E-newsletter (September 2023)
Here’s our September Briefing Notes edition, with stories about truth and reconciliation, wildfires response, vacancy control, housing as healthcare, and more!
E-newsletter (Summer 2023)
Here’s our Summer Briefing Notes edition, prepared by our summer student, Isabelle Han — with stories about affordable housing, maximum temperature allowances, car-free streets, youth climate litigation and more!
Indigenous Issues and Reconciliation Resources
Prepared by Isabella Johnson
Below are resources and learnings to help local electeds further the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action in their communities across British Columbia and Canada.
Truth and Reconciliation
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of CanadaWhat We Have Learned – Principles of Truth and Reconciliation
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Beyond 94 – Truth and Reconciliation in Canada (CBC)
- Truth and Reconciliation – City of Vancouver
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action – Government of BC
- Reconciliation Canada
- Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
- Indigenous Foundations, UBC
- Indigenous Canada, University of Alberta (Free on-line course on Indigenous perspectives and history)
- The Survivors Speak
- Truth and Reconciliation: Calls To Action
- Canada’s Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials
Residential Schools
- Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, UBC
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS)
MMIWG
UNDRIP / DRIPA
- UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- City of Vancouver’s UNDRIP Strategy
- City of Vancouver’s UNDRIP Action Plan
- Government of British Columbia – Annual report updates collective efforts to achieve objectives of UN Declaration
Racism and Discrimination in Health Care
- In Plain Sight – Independent Review of Indigenous Specific Racism in B.C. Health Care (November 2020)
Child Welfare Agreement
Statements on Unmarked Graves
- Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Statement on Kamloops Indian Residential School
- Statement from the Office of the Chief, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc
- How to support Tḱemlúps te Secwepemc
- ʔaq̓am Statement on Discovery of Unmarked Graves
- First Nations leaders on the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at Saskatchewan residential school
Grave Detection:
- Canadian Archeological Association – Recommended Pathway for Locating Unmarked Graves Around Residential Schools
- Remote Sensing and Grave Detection
- Resources for Indigenous Communities Considering Investigating Unmarked Graves
Indigenous Voices:
- We were Children – In this feature film, the profound impact of the Canadian government’s residential school system is conveyed through the eyes of two children who were forced to face hardships beyond their years.
- Canadian Shame: A History of Residential Schools, Ginger Gosnell-Myers of Nisga’a and Kwakwaka’wakw heritage
- The decades-long battle to achieve fairness for Indigenous kids in Canada from Indigenous children’s advocate Cindy Blackstock
- Wawahte – Stories of Indian Residential School Survivors
- The National Campus and Community Radio Association – Resonating Reconciliation Documentaries
- #IndigenousReads
- The Indigenous Storyteller in Residence, VPL
Steps to Act on the 94 Calls to Action:
- The TRC Calls to Action in BC Municipalities – Women Transforming Cities
- Canada must face its deep systemic racism against Indigenous people, The Globe & Mail
- Indigenous children who died at Canada’s residential schools, The Guardian
- Indigenous People Advance a Dramatic Goal: Reversing Colonialism, The New York Times
- From truth to reconciliation: How to Move Forward with the TRC’s Calls to Action, Global News
Please share articles and updates for us to post here at info@columbiainstitute.eco