Reflection on Progress made and the long road ahead on International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9th each year. The day was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1994 to promote and protect the rights of the world’s Indigenous population. It is an opportunity to recognize the contributions and achievements of Indigenous peoples and address their challenges.

With a passion for education, I, along with my team at Healing Between Worlds, am at the forefront of creating lasting change. We have an opportunity to acknowledge and support this very important healing journey. We teach individuals, corporations, communities and organizations about Canada’s history through an Indigenous lens and Cultural safety.

I am struck by the similarities as I listen to trainees from different countries tell their stories of how Indigenous people have been and are being colonized across the world. It is always difficult walking alongside them as they discover Canada’s attempted assimilation of people. It’s heart-wrenching to hear their stories while watching them come to terms with learning they moved to a country that has a very different truth than the one they knew.

Once we’ve built a foundation of truth and cultural understanding, we guide organizations and communities to align with Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action and the 47 articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

While I am heartened by the progress we've made, I am also reminded of the long road ahead. There is so much more to do, and all of us at Healing Between Worlds are committed to supporting individuals, organizations and communities as they take crucial steps toward true understanding and healing. Let’s continue to build a future that honours the spirit of reconciliation and respects the rights of all Indigenous peoples.

Remember, there are a thousand ways to heal, and we heal when we walk together.