The CIECYR Second Bi-Annual DEI 2015 Symposium: Truth, Reconciliation and Engagement, is a national two-day initiative that will explore how grassroots and mainstream institutions/organizations engage diverse individuals, families and/or communities who have experienced traumatic events whether locally or internationally caused by either human or natural factors. The Symposium aims to illustrate existing challenges and in turn cutting edge promising practices of engagement wherever they may exist. The event will be populated by approximately 650 attendees each day. Expected attendees include: human service professionals from all sectors, and a spectrum of community members and leaders across the country to list a few.

Truth:

Reconciliation:

• Did the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada go far enough? What were the Outcomes? Are most Canadians aware of the process? What are next steps?
• What promising practices* exist locally/globally centered on the reconciliation process?
• How do we work toward a future that is supportive and respectful of First Nations Métis Inuit peoples?

 Engagement

• How do we begin to engage and/or advocate with First Nations communities whose residents are experiencing alarming rates of acute poverty, premature births and deaths within the first year of life, high rates of suicides, impoverished housing, poor sanitation, a severely ill-equipped educational system in comparison to its mainstream counterpart, poor health outcomes and among other forms of chronic oppression and marginalization?
• How do you speak of the above realities without stereotyping First Nations people?
• Is direct engagement/service delivery appropriate/required/wanted? Instead, should resources that support and enhance independent action/the internal capacity of First Nations communities be the focus? Said differently, do mainstream sectors need to simply get out of the way so First Nations communities can drawn on their own remedial practices and solutions to community challenges coupled with proper resource levels (e.g. adequate funding, etc.)?
• As service providers do we ask the “right questions”? Do we have the right skill sets to know what these questions might be, how to listen without further marginalizing First Nations people and how to mobilize the information shared?

As service providers how do we see beyond the limitations of our individual mandates, procedures, organizational cultures, clinical models, biases, etc. in order to understand, appreciate, engage and stand with First Nations people?

The symposium will feature keynote speakers and workshop facilitators from diverse sectors and/or geographic locations who will provide in-depth learning experiences with regards to their inspiring and widely recognized journeys.

The symposium will culminate in the development of a comprehensive and well researched discussion paper with several salient recommendations that all, if not most organizations/sectors will find useful as they continue on an individual and/or collective paths.

The symposium and all associated events promise to be world class in all respects. It is a national initiative with an international draw that focuses on local issues and learnings that are geographically transferable!