BARRHEAD - Woodlands County council has taken another step toward becoming more inclusive and aware of Indigenous and First Nations issues.
At their Sept. 27 Whitecourt meeting, councillors unanimously adopted a schedule of recommendations by the Indigenous awareness subcommittee earlier in the week and instructed administration to start their implementation. Councillors also instructed staff to lower the flags at all Woodland County facilities on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30 as a tribute and to remember the individuals and families who suffered due to the Canadian residential school system.
Economic development officer Bert Roach told councillors that the municipality formed the committee in the spring of 2022.
He noted that the subcommittee created the schedule, which includes concrete steps the municipality can take to further Indigenous inclusion and strengthen the relationship between the Indigenous community with the help of the Whitecourt Indigenous Friends Society.
The schedule instructs administration to develop a land acknowledgement policy. It also states that the municipality should create a ceremonial procedure for council's annual organizational meeting and councillor orientation, which includes inviting local Indigenous community leaders to "bring prayers and conduct a smudging ceremony. The schedule also says that administration staff and councillors should be given the opportunity to take an annual "Personal Pledge of Reconcillaiton."
It also calls upon the municipality to partner with the Indigenous Friends Society and other local organizations to assist and participate in June 21's National Indigenous Peoples Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events. It also states that the municipality, starting in the 2024 budget, will include specific funding for participating in the above events.
The schedule also tasks the county to appoint a councillor representative on the Whitecourt Indigenous Friends Society and ensure that administration staff and councillors have the opportunity to take cultural awareness training. It also instructs administration to add cultural awareness training to the annual strategic planning review sessions.
Whitecourt Central Coun. Alan Deane noted that what the subcommittee has accomplished in such a short time was commendable but said more work is necessary.
"It is a good start," he said.
In the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) 2015 Call to Action report, local governments were called upon to take several actions, including acknowledging Indigenous peoples' traditional territories and history, including collaborating with local Indigenous communities to ensure that place names, historical sites and cultural significance are recognized and respected; establishing and encouraging cultural competency training for all their employees; support Indigenous youth by providing opportunities for skills training, education and employment; and to create a local reconciliation strategy in collaboration with Indigenous communities.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
