Reflecting on Truth and Reconciliation

Today, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, holds much meaning for Canadians – especially for those of us in the Indigenous community. The atrocities that faced – and continue to face – Indigenous peoples are finally being recognized providing some semblance of truth, but as this truth comes to light so too must we focus on reconciliation.

As a Métis person who has little knowledge of her own history, I find today particularly challenging. Reclaiming one’s history when family members have passed, taking with them any knowledge or stories that might shed light on our ancestry, is difficult. 

As I reflect on what little I do know of my family’s history, I am struck by the fact that if I don’t know much about the history of our first peoples, what about non-Indigenous Canadians? What can we, as a collective, do to not simply wear orange once or twice a year, but to also take action.

I don’t claim to be an expert, and I don’t have all of the resources. But, when I look at what actions we can take, I often look at it through the lens of a communicator. What can we, as an industry, do? 

For me, it starts with conscious action.

Conscious Creation

As marketing professionals we spend a lot of time talking about, building and consuming content. We seek to dominate newsfeeds and in doing so what we create, shapes the narratives of our audiences. 

While we see more and more brands jumping on bandwagons – such as engaging Black creators only during Black History Month, or highlighting those of us (ahem) with grey hair in light of recent news headlines – we can do more. 

Indigenous peoples are storytellers by nature. By engaging Indigenous content creators we have the opportunity to highlight and amplify some of the most beautiful and impactful stories on earth, told by rich and engaging storytellers. This is a commitment that we’ve made at Agnostic through our Content Creator Spotlight, as we believe that the more we understand each other the easier reconciliation will be to achieve.

Conscious Consumption

Throughout the pandemic we saw a turning towards our communities. Supporting smaller businesses and being hyper conscious about where we were purchasing our goods. This is something that also extends to the Indigenous community.

From seeking out Indigenous book stores such as Massy Books, to exploring the amazing finds at Old’s Cool General Store (hot tip, the puzzle and book game in this place is amazing!), to ensuring that when you do purchase an orange shirt it is from an Indigenous maker, there are so many ways to support Indigenous businesses. 

There are many lists for how you can support Indigenous businesses, from makeup to clothing to food to art, there is a world of new brands to explore and experiences to have.

Conscious Commitment

Change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s something that takes conscious commitment, a dedication to not just one action but to embedding action into everyday moments. It’s something I’ve committed myself to – to furthering my own knowledge of Métis history, to making conscious choices every day that support Indigenous peoples, and to holding myself accountable. 

As we all continue our journey of Truth and Reconciliation, it is important to remind ourselves of the 94 Calls to Action, and to continuing our own journeys not just today, but every day.