On September 23rd I had the privilege of visiting the Pikwakanagan First Nation Algonquin community. For those of you who don’t know, Pikwakanagan is situated on the shores of Golden Lake and the Bonnechere River in Renfrew County.
It was in my role as the Council Liaison for the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation Civic Cultural Protocol and Implementation Plan, that I had the opportunity to be part of our first in-person Consultative Circle with the host nation.
I was incredibly honoured to be surrounded by such a rich cultural heritage, and to engage in meaningful conversations with so many valuable members of the Consultative Circle. In the spirit of advancing the Reconciliation Action Plan which was established by the City in 2018, the Consultative Circle builds relationships between Leaders and Elders of Algonquin First Nations and City staff.
On Monday, September 30th, it was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and it was a solemn reminder of the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples not only within our history but in present day.
Reconciliation is not just a one-time act. I look forward to working more with members of this community, to hearing their stories, and ensuring that their perspectives and experiences are heard.
