Program this week - June 18, 2021
The Kamloops Residential School Discovery and Anishnabeg Outreach Programs
by Stephen Jackson - CEO, Anishnabeg Outreach
Liz Sandals graciously introduced our guest speaker, Stephen Jackson, CEO of Anishnabeg Outreach (AO) (Website https://aocan.org) to inform us about the AO Programs:
To build processes and tools that will position current and future First Nation, Métis, and Inuit generations as prosperous leaders and strategic partners in Canada’s future.
Liz explained that Stephen had been invited some time ago by our club's Indigenous Awareness Committee to coincide with June being National Indigenous History Month. He had agreed to join us at our Friday club meeting closest to Summer Solstice (June 21) which is also recognized in Canada as National Indigenous Peoples Day. The original purpose of his talk was to tell us more about the Anishnabeg Outreach Indigenous Healing Centre located in Kitchener (with a Guelph branch). This he was still going to do, but the last few weeks had brought to light the shocking and painful discovery of 215 children's bodies buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Despite it being traumatizing and difficult to speak about, Stephen had agreed to provide us with some perspective on that, too.
Prior to addressing us today, Stephen had shared his written response regarding the Kamloops discovery. It can and should be read on our club website here.
Soon after greeting us and beginning to speak, raw emotions overcame Stephen and he needed some moments to compose himself before continuing. Stephen's own feelings reflected the immense pain of Indigenous people that has been further triggered by the recent Kamloops discovery, with a deep sense of loss and betrayal. And the painful realization that many more such tragic discoveries of lost children are expected at other locations, not only in Canada but in the US as well.
Stephen hopes that the Kamloops discovery, which has shocked and awakened many non-Indigenous Canadians too, will serve as a galvanizing moment and impetus for change. In truth, he said, barely any meaningful changes have taken place since the publication of the Truth & Reconciliation Report in 2015 - lots of fine words spoken, but few real actions, despite the TRC having provided a road map. One can at least say that some conversations are being held today that were not being discussed even a few years ago.
As a business executive with extensive experience in HR, talent management and management consulting, Stephen is particularly frustrated and sad that businesses have not implemented changes to remove systemic employment barriers that hinder Indigenous progress. And that is what led him to accept the role of CEO at Anishnabeg Outreach back in 2017, to find ways of bringing about practical and meaningful change. AO has since grown substantially (more than 1,000%) and established a new and viable path forward that is exciting in its local context, and exciting for its potential of serving as a beacon and model for replication elsewhere too, utilizing modern technology.
Stephen brought his management experience with him into the AO leadership role, knowing that "what gets monitored and measured is what gets done" and that the AO organization would "grow at the speed of partnerships". AO is now putting reconciliation actions into practice, and picking up the pace of meaningful change to a point where light in the tunnel can be foreseen in the coming years, even while recognizing history dating back hundreds and even thousands of years.
The AO programs are truly inspiring. More can and should be read on their website here. https://aocan.org but it all begins with healing, and providing tools and pathways necessary for self-healing, then building on Family, Community and Culture, all with the goal of achieving Economic Independence that is required for progress.
The multitude of AO programs now include their welcoming physical space, education programs (they are a registered EarlyON drop-in centre for Indigenous children), sports, art, business and employment development, mentorship opportunities, mental health and social wrap-around services, Spirit Bundles, housing and health care (including serving as a Covid-10 vaccination centre), skills training, community gardens, and much more.
It is quite astonishing how much AO has changed and grown in just the past few years and inspiring to see how they are navigating and linking the past, present and future.
Their partnerships are growing exponentially, too, with top-level organizations and institutions getting onboard because they appreciate AO's vision and practical methods.
The support that AO is now providing to thousands of people can potentially be expanded to tens and even hundreds of thousands through sharing their successful models with online technology such as their new website and a Learning Management System that is in development.
Anishnabeg Outreach is bringing a new view to how Reconciliation could look, and is deserving of our support and encouragement.
Rick Le Feuvre thanked Stephen for sharing his heart with us, and for informing us about the amazing journey of Anishnabeg Outreach. Stay tuned. We'll be hearing more about AO in future, for sure.
In Stephen's own words, "I can't wait for tomorrow."
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Both were very tall and lean, both retired academics and farmers, both former sports people, both former club presidents and each with a long and amazing history in Rotary. There were many parallels.
As previously reported, Paul's dear wife Jean passed away on April 11, 2021. A wonderful Celebration of Life service was held on June 17, attended online by many family and friends. And what a celebration it was of Jean's incredible life and legacy, spoken about by many different people. The Truex family has shared the recording for those who might have missed the service or wish to view it again. 
Rotary Club of Guelph-Wellington's 32nd annual Duck Race fundraiser.
If you're happy and you know it, contribute your Happy Bucks on our club's GiveSome pages 
