We recognize and celebrate Indigenous people’s history, heritage, culture, resilience, and diversity.
For generations, many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or around June 21 because of the significance of the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.
Jared McNabb, of Standing Buffalo Nation, is an Indigenous Case Worker at SafeLink Alberta. McNab says this is a time of ceremony for Indigenous people and suggests organizations ensure their employees have the time and space to attend them.
This is also a good opportunity for non-Indigenous people to learn about the culture around them.
“Just be open, be curious, don’t make any assumptions based on what you think you know,” says McNabb. “Talk with someone indigenous and just be open to learning something new.”
McNabb says that as well as learning about Indigenous people, history, and culture, it is also a good time to consider what steps you could take to decolonize. This includes:
- Learning who you are and where you came from.
- Learning whose land you live on and what has been done to them.
- Finding out how you benefit from that history.
- Using that privilege to share and dismantle the colonization that you benefit from.
- Discuss decolonization with your colleagues, friends and family.
“It’s not about who you are or where you come from,” says McNabb, “It’s about what you are doing today and your willingness to go out of your way to learn.”
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To learn more about the specific supports we have in place for Indigenous Communities, visit https://safelinkalberta.ca/case-management