We Are All Treaty People

Saskatoon Community Foundation announces first grants from community Reconciliation Fund

  • Published - 31/05/2018
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  • Posted By - Saskatoon Community Foundation
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The Community Fund for Reconciliation

In 2017, the Saskatoon Community Foundation created the Community Fund for Reconciliation, supported in part with proceeds from the 2017 Nutrien Saskatoon Community Foundation Cultural Gala. The Saskatoon Community Foundation today announces the first round of grants from the Fund, totaling $100,000.00.

The journey undertaken in order for SCF make these grants was built on collaboration and partnership. Members of SCF’s Grants Committee began with a pipe ceremony led by an elder and a personal story from a survivor of residential schools, learning about Indigenous culture and our true history in the spirit of reconciliation. The Committee worked with cultural advisors Gilbert Kewistep and Judy Pelly representing First Nations communities and Shirley Isbister representing Métis communities to ensure many voices were included. The Saskatoon Community Foundation’s Grants Committee is: Curtis Kimpton (Chair), Tracy Muggli, Cara Petrovicz, Judy Pelly, John Lagimodiere, Dinny Holroyd, Shreya Pahwa, Mitch Yuzdepski, and Kathy Allen.

Grants from the Community Fund for Reconciliation

Our funded projects focus on partnerships and leadership from indigenous people and organizations. Applications presented projects in which indigenous groups or organizations seek partnership with non-Indigenous organizations, and in which Indigenous people are actively involved in leading the project. Projects seek “new ways of living together,” and address at least one of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report.

The 2018 grants from the Community Fund for Reconciliation are:

Recipient & Partners Project & Description Grant
·         City of Saskatoon

 

·         Reconciliation Saskatoon*

ConnectR: A campaign led by Reconciliation Saskatoon that invites people to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. An engaging online tool allows users to begin their journey in an interactive and personal way. $19,465.00

 

·         City of Saskatoon

·         Saskatchewan First Nations Economic Development Network

·         University of Saskatchewan

·         Saskatchewan Health Authority

·         Office of the Treaty Commissioner

Engaging Employers: The Business Case for Reconciliation:Drawing upon the expertise of Indigenous professionals working in Saskatoon, the project will raise awareness through learning sessions and provide a “How To” booklet to employers. $8,000.00
·         Saskatchewan Intercultural Association

 

·         ITEP

Indigenous People and Racialized Newcomers Coming Together To Work For Reconciliation: A forum to motivate racialized immigrants and refugees to gain understanding of reconciliation including treaty obligations and the challenges facing Indigenous people. $7,700.00
·         Cental Urban Metis Federation Incorporated

 

·         Saskatchewan Intercultural Association

Reconciliation, Sharing Cultural Knowledge through Music & Dance: Bringing Metis Fiddlers and Jiggers together with Newcomers to share knowledge and culture through music, dance and storytelling. $20,000.00
·         Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming Inc.

 

·         Indigenous Poets Society

Truth and Spoken Word, Creating Space for Reconciliation: A series of 40 workshops and 10 Poetry Slams offering age-specific and age appropriate cultural knowledge transfer through Spoken Word and Storytelling activities, focusing on reconciliation, the history of residential schools and new ways of living together. $11,835.00
·         Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research

 

·         Friends of Batoche

Reconciliation Through Land, Plants, and Language on Metis Landscapes: Creating relevant and enjoyable language resources for the protection and preservation of Michif language through the Michif Plant Guidebook, and celebrating music and culture. $8,000.00
·         Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation Corp.

 

·         Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies

Reconciliation Through the Indigenous Arts – The Indigenous Ensemble of Saskatoon Public Schools: an arts-based extracurricular program serving over 340 Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, providing experiential education regarding FNIM culture and history. $5,000.00
·         City of Saskatoon

 

·         Reconciliation Saskatoon*

Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation: The 3rd Annual event will bring thousands from Saskatoon’s diverse communities together to raise awareness around the Calls to Action and Reconciliation led by residential school survivors. $20,000.00

* Reconciliation Saskatoon is a community of more than 60 organizations, non-profits, businesses and partners from Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds who have come together to initiate a citywide conversation about reconciliation and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in Calls to Action

The Board of Directors also made a four year commitment to Rock Your Roots, providing annual funding through 2021.

“The Saskatoon Community Foundation is committed to reconciliation and to finding new ways of living together in a more inclusive society,” notes SCF Executive Director Carm Michalenko, “These first grants from the Community Fund for Reconciliation represent the beginning of that journey, but there is much yet to be done. Anyone can contribute to the fund. The theme of reconciliation will be continued this year at the 12th Nutrien Saskatoon Community Foundation Cultural Gala on September 15, 2018 at TCU Place. The theme for the Gala is ‘The Spirit of Fire,’ and a portion of the proceeds will forever become part of the Fund. We hope that all of Saskatoon will be inspired to create the change we want to see.”

“Maybe the most inspiring aspect of this first round of grants from the Community Fund for Reconciliation is the creation of new partnerships among diverse groups and organizations, working together to create a vision that can embrace all the people who share this community,” adds Grants Committee Chair Curtis Kimpton. “We could not have accomplished this without donors, charities, staff, volunteers and cultural advisors all contributing to that shared vision.”