Our Pledge of Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
Reconciliation
Clear Course is strongly committed to the journey of reconciliation. We support the formal Nation-to-Nation process initiated through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We know hard work lies ahead for everybody. We believe that meaningful change can happen from the ground up when honesty, humility, and trust are the guiding principles, and we are committed to actions of reconciliation on a professional and personal level.
We recognize that the Government of Canada refers to reconciliation as the renewal of the relationship with Indigenous Peoples. It has been our experience that for some Indigenous Peoples, reconciliation isn’t possible because there isn’t a place of relational return; instead, there is a need to build a new relationship. Therefore, at times, this word is presented as (re)conciliation. We have chosen to continue to use the word reconciliation as it is the term used by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada; however, we recognize that there are differing opinions on the use of this word.
Land Acknowledgement
We believe land acknowledgements are just one of many necessary steps towards reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. With our company based in Pemberton, BC, we are working with the Lil̓wat Culture Heritage Language Authority to seek feedback and increase our understanding regarding the appropriateness of including land acknowledgements in our work. We will practice land acknowledgments under their direction and amend this practice if their direction changes.
We respectfully acknowledge that we are within the Lil̓watátkwa7 (Lillooet River) watershed which is part of the unceded Traditional Territory of the St̓át̓yemc Ucwalmicwts (language) speaking people – the Líl̓wat7ul.
Our Pledge to Indigenous Peoples
In acknowledgement of the Indigenous communities that we work with, and in recognition of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s ninety-four calls to action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), our company makes the following pledge:
We acknowledge the strength and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples, and the immense suffering they have endured;
we acknowledge and accept our role in actively participating in reconciliation; and
we promise to make meaningful projects a reality as defined and guided by the Indigenous communities we work with.
As a company, we will do the following to fulfill this pledge:
Identify and honour the processes and the community protocols of the different Indigenous Peoples who we work with.
Always honour that it is a right for Indigenous people to make choices based on free, prior, and informed consent.
Actively dispel stereotypes and Indigenous-related myths and misconceptions. Recognize and address our own unconscious biases.
Recognize that Indigenous communities have values and priorities that may shift over time; we will do our best to listen and reflect these changes in our thinking and our work.
Recognize that Indigenous rights change over time; we will stay informed of these changes.
Always honour the strengths of Indigenous peoples, including their ancestral strength (culture, language, connection to the land), their community strength (families, relationships, and belonging), and their personal strength (courage, determination, and physical, emotional, and spiritual resilience).
Be culturally sensitive by considering the history of Indigenous Peoples throughout Canada as history informs the different viewpoints, values, and priorities of each community member, family, First Nation, and Nation.
Recognize, understand, and respect that there are Indigenous communities with different governance structures in Canada at various stages of negotiations with the Government of Canada (e.g., treaties, self-governance structures, and traditional governance models).
Work with Indigenous communities to build human capacity through relevant partnerships and initiatives, such as mentor programs, training, academic initiatives, and employment as directed by the community.
Provide staff education on Indigenous history, rights, cultural sensitivity, and anti-racism.
Reinvest company profits to enable staff to contribute time, expertise, and resources to work on Indigenous projects that are mutually meaningful.
Strive to use innovative and emergent practices in reconciliation, such as two-eyed seeing. Two-eyed seeing is a Mi’kmaw term, defined as “learning to see from one eye the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing, and using both eyes together, for the benefit of all.”