Honoring Truth & Reconciliation in Canada
Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada is a time to honour the children who never made it home from residential schools, as well as the families and survivors who continue to suffer from both direct and intergenerational trauma.
Our initial instinct may be to act, to feel compelled to do something. At Synergy, we’ve learned that listening and understanding are the most important first steps toward truth and reconciliation.
As residential school survivor Eddie Charlie wisely shared, "We must have the courage to share and the courage to listen." This principle guides our approach.
We’ve made Indigenous Perspectives Training a mandatory course for all new employees to deepen our understanding. This training, provided by the Indigenous Perspectives Society (IPS), helps foster a deeper awareness of Indigenous perspectives and cultural differences, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous self-determination. This training has enriched our team’s understanding of the past and strengthened our commitment to reconciliation.
Another resource we recommend is through our sister non-profit, the Synergy Foundation. They have worked with hundreds of small businesses through the Vancouver Island Green Business Program. This program was the first of its kind to add a Truth and Reconciliation action point for all businesses. We saw an opportunity to encourage other companies to learn and commit to allyship. This program has developed a resource list for businesses and we encourage businesses of all types and sizes to explore this list.
Businesses can also join the small business pledge for a chance to support the urban Indigenous community directly. The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) offers this platform to get involved and take action in the reconciliation process. Businesses can complete the pledge form to get started. Further information will be provided once you’ve pledged.
On this Truth and Reconciliation Day, we invite everyone to reflect on the importance of listening, learning, and actively supporting the path toward reconciliation in Canada.