The May 25th noonhour brought an engaging presentation and subsequent conversation on Truth and Reconciliation and Treaty implementation hosted by the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce. The one-hour online symposium introduced participants to resources and community support available through the Office of the Treaty Commission (OTC). The organization, started in 1989, is a cooperative venture of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Government of Canada to promote an understanding of Treaty among all partners, and to work toward resolving outstanding issues that impact the welfare of First Nations people. One of the goals is to establish community partnerships that educate citizens about the fundamental beliefs and aspirations of First Nations people. 

To that end, Amy Seesequasis, director of public education, was on hand to provide background as to the various departments and resources at OTC’s disposal. Seesequasis is originally from the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation. She is a familiar face from her involvement with the Creeland Dancers, a troupe who combines traditional Metis jigging with square dancing.

“Our services aim to promote and provide education and services to support the implementation of Treaties and the Treaty relationship,” explained Seesequasis, “so we engage in opportunities to bridge information gaps and dispel those stereotypes and misconceptions about the Treaty relationship and history.”

Guided by a core of values that include honesty, accountability, fairness, and respect, the OTC provides speakers to communities, agencies, and schools that promote those educational pathways. The organization has produced many documents that are familiar to K-12 and post-secondary educators, including Treaty Kits that help students to navigate the information on how Treaties created obligations and how those still need to be met. 

“When I say ‘we are all Treaty people’, we have those responsibilities to each other with that identity,” says Seesequasis.

The theme of bridges recurred with co-presenter Rhett Sangster, director of reconciliation and community partnerships. Sangster grew up in Tisdale and has spent the majority of his career working internationally on conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Sangster spoke about the strategies in place throughout the province to facilitate the kinds of work the OTC promotes.

One of the chief initiatives is a series of 10 reconciliation circles established in communities across the province. Much of the presentation served as an invitation for Humboldt to muster its community resources to consider the venture.

“We try to gather people from the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community, from business, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), as diverse groups as we can get to say who are the right people in Humboldt, Battleford, or Lloydminster to help build relationships and build trust and movement on Reconciliation,” offered Sangster. 

As a challenge to break down large concepts like Reconciliation, Sangster took the approximately 40 participants through an exercise that allowed each one to imagine a conversation 25 years into the future. The two-minute speculative pause allowed people to personalize what progress would look like in terms of relationship building, community betterment, and Indigenous peoples’ welfare. 

The invitation offered at the noon hour session bore immediate results as City Council was asked to entertain a report from the City’s Directory of Cultural Services, Jennifer Fitzpatrick. The recommendation to support a regional Reconciliation program for public awareness and education was passed unanimously by City Council at its Tuesday, May 25 monthly meeting.

The initiative would provide avenues for public participation, training for City Council and staff, and a framework for Council’s and adminstration’s leadership moving forward with Reconciliation Programming. 

As an active partner in forwarding Truth and Reconciliation, the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce promises more programming upcoming for businesses to engage in Reconciliation as a function of strengthening both businesses and the community as a whole.