What kind of Canada do we want to live in?

Along the same theme as with my previous BLOG in February I feel compelled to write on where we find ourselves today, Once again in deep sadness and despair.

Hate and genocide is filling our social media feeds. Everywhere we turn we are confronted with the reality that Canada has been built on racism and genocide.

As a mother, grandmother and educator I must not just write a BLOG post BUT write a post that compels each of us to ACT!

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion or EDI has become a trend in Educational Institutions and companies, yet as an educator I have been advocating for this work since I began my career in the early 80’s.

What is different about 2021? We are 16 months into a global pandemic that finds most of us living and working very differently. The former President of the USA promoted hate and anchored white supremacy as the norm! We can’t ignore the ugly history of Canada anymore, with the evidence of 215 children’s bodies found on the site of a residential school! Now a family has been murdered in London, ON solely based on their beliefs.

The recent events should make us ALL stop in our tracks. First and foremost we must believe racism exists!

How do we truly become an ally. We must act now! Whether it’s BIPOC issues, Islamophobia, or Indigenous genocide. Acknowledging hate does not need to be exclusive or an all or nothing acknowledgement. As a mom and grandmother all these issues are personal for me! I know I am not alone in feeling an urgency to do something meaningful! In my last post,What kind of Citizen do you want to be? I shared some of the books I have read recently. In this post I want to share some other ways I have acted in hopes it will propel others to do the same!

Here are a few suggestions and by NO means are inclusive. If you have other suggestions please add them to the comments!

A colleague of mine introduced me to this petition with the recommendation of signing it each morning. All people deserve clean water! There our First Nation folks within a short drive of many of our local communities that do not have clean water

Call on the federal government to fulfill their promise made in 2015 to put an end to all long-term drinking water advisories in all First Nations Communities

Support Indigenous Brands that give a portion of the proceeds to their indigenous communities.

Buying face masks supports this Ottawa Based Indigenous company

Needing a new lip gloss or eye shadow support this Indigenous run sustainable make up company

Shop Indigenous books at Strong Na tion Books

For children’s books on all thing’s justice, equity and inclusion shop Second Story Press

Speak out against hate in ALL its forms and listen to those who have been marginalized. Believe friends, colleagues and relations who say they have experienced racism. Take it upon yourself to learn.

Read the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action

Take this free course offered by the University of Alberta Called Indigenous Canada

Take this 30 minute interactive course– Call it out: racism, racial discrimination and human rights.

As Canada Day fast approaches please take some time on July 1st to reflect on what you can do to build a community that our grandchildren and their children can live free from hate and fear.

Finally, let’s consider one of Maya Angelou quotes:

“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet.”