July 1st, Canada Day, is a day reserved for the recognition and celebration of the birth of the nation known as Canada. On this day, friends and families typically gather and the happy sounds of laughter and celebration ring out.
July 1,st 2021, however, is different from years past. On May 27, 2021, the news broke that the remains of 215 Indigenous children were located on the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. As shock, horror, and grief spread across the country, the voices of residential school Survivors and their families rose above the rest — search the grounds of all the schools, there are more. As graves continue to be located across the country, the weight of this knowledge sits heavy in the hearts of many. These children represent lost generations of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Mothers, Fathers, Aunts, Uncles, Land Defenders, Water Keepers.
In many places, Canada Day celebrations are being cancelled out of respect for the grief experienced by Indigenous Peoples, Nations, communities, and by Canadians, many who are learning about these atrocities for the first time. However, the choice to celebrate is a personal choice that should be respected.
On June 30, 2021, radio stations across the country participated in A Day to Listen, where the voices and stories, the truth and knowledge, of Indigenous Peoples were heard. As the calendar flips to July 1, consider taking a moment to listen to these stories, to listen to the voices of Survivors, to hear the collective grief that surrounds the loss of these stolen children.
Consider taking the time on July 1 to reflect, to connect with your family, with nature, with your spiritual self. Ground yourself in the moment and feel the sorrow and grief of this loss so that we, as a nation, can rise together to work toward a better Canada.
Here at SVS, we honour the children who never came home. Our hearts are with the families and communities who are mourning this unimaginable loss. We reaffirm our commitment to our Indigenous clients and to all Indigenous Peoples and Nations to do our part toward reconciliation and toward a better future for all.
About Us: Shared Value Solutions
We are an Canadian B Corp, and we assist Indigenous communities with support throughout regulatory processes surrounding major development projects like mines, hydroelectric facilities, transmission lines, highway expansions, oil and gas pipelines, natural resource transport applications and nuclear power.
We have deep context and experience behind the recommendations we provide, having worked for our clients on almost every major project in Canada over the last 10 years. For us, it’s all about building long-term relationships with our clients. We want to get to know you and what you want to do so we can help you move your plans forward.
- Impact Benefit Agreement Negotiation Support
- Technical Reviews and Regulatory Process Support
- Community and Economic Development Planning
- Indigenous Knowledge and Land Use Studies
- Environmental Monitoring
- Guardians Program Development
- Climate Change Readiness
- GIS and Mapping
- And so much more: www.sharedvaluesolutions.com