Spirit Bear: Echoes of the Past
How to engage children in learning about the diverse history of First Nations to prepare them to implement the TRC's calls to action and create an equitable future for all children. The session will show how all educators can be allies and stand up for the rights of all children so that all children can reach their full potential. Educators can be embracing and teaching indigenous culture so that we can acknowledge our past and forge a pathway together. By modelling empathy, understanding, curiosity and inclusion we are setting the stage for the children to be better and to do better.
Facilitator Bio:
Cindy Blackstock, PhD
A member of the Gitxsan First Nation, Cindy is honoured to serve as the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and a professor at McGill University’s School of Social Work. She has over 30 years of experience working in child welfare and Indigenous children’s rights and has published more than 75 articles on topics relating to reconciliation, Indigenous theory, First Nations child welfare and human rights. Cindy was honoured to work with First Nations colleagues on a successful human rights challenge to Canada’s inequitable provision of child and family services and failure to implement Jordan’s Principle. This hard- fought litigation has resulted in hundreds of thousands of services being provided to First Nations children, youth and families.
She recently served on the Pan American Health Commission on Health Equity and Inequity and fundamentally believes that culturally-based equity is fundamental to meaningful reconciliation. Cindy is frequently sighted in the company of the Caring Society’s reconciliation Am-bear-rister, Spirit Bear, engaging children in meaningful actions to implement the TRC Calls to Action.
November 12, 2021
11:00 AM