{"id":4907,"date":"2021-10-24T17:57:19","date_gmt":"2021-10-24T21:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/panl\/?p=4907"},"modified":"2021-11-11T19:57:07","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T00:57:07","slug":"calgary-foundations-work-on-reconciliation-and-racial-equity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/panl\/2021\/calgary-foundations-work-on-reconciliation-and-racial-equity\/","title":{"rendered":"Calgary Foundation\u2019s Work on Reconciliation and Racial Equity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By Katie MacDonald and Tim Fox of Calgary Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n

How do we strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities and enhance our collective work toward reconciliation? This question informs Calgary Foundation\u2019s commitment to reconciliation in accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission\u2019s (TRC) 94 Calls to Action<\/a>, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)<\/a>, and finally, as signatories to The Philanthropic Communities Declaration of Action<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"In 2016, Calgary Foundation realized the key to providing a lasting impact was to learn about and implement systems-change thinking into our work; this work needed to be weaved into the fabric of the Foundation. In February 2020, a partnership between Candid, Grant Craft and Native Americans in Philanthropy released a case study of Calgary Foundation\u2019s approach, \u201cChanging from the Inside Out: Calgary Foundation\u2019s Journey to Strengthen Relationships with Indigenous Communities<\/a>.\u201d The study provides important context and history about the Foundation\u2019s reconciliation journey to date.<\/p>\n

How do we begin? Where do we start?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As a society, we are conditioned to identify a complex issue or problem and immediately find ways to a solution. As an organization, all of us at Calgary Foundation have come to understand it is not that straightforward when attempting to shift a culture or change a system that was built on power and privilege. Even before delving into the Calls to Action, there are insights and context provided in the TRC\u2019s Executive Summary: Honouring the Truth, Reconciling the Future<\/a>. This context is what Calgary Foundation is drawing on as part of our approach in systems change for reconciliation.<\/p>\n

\"\"The TRC notes, “Reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in this country. In order for that to happen, there has to be awareness of the past, acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2017, Calgary Foundation has been on a journey to incorporate context and deep-rooted understanding related to the damaging legacy Canadian history has had on Indigenous communities. This type of transformational change requires the Foundation to take a relational as opposed to transactional approach with all stakeholders, including grant recipients.<\/p>\n