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Newmarket’s Truth and Reconciliation work ‘ongoing and becoming part of our culture,’ Mayor John Taylor says

Town has embraced pathways through staff training and community projects

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 2, 2023
Lisa Queen

The creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada was part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement in 2007. The TRC’s purpose was to provide those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the residential school system an opportunity to share their stories and experiences.

After hearing from more than 6,500 witnesses, the TRC recommended 94 calls to action in 2015.

Metroland Media reached out to local municipalities to ask about #57:

“We call upon federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal--Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.”

Newmarket has embraced pathways to Truth and Reconciliation, both through training for employees and community projects, Mayor John Taylor said.

“The Town of Newmarket organization has a responsibility to engage in Truth and Reconciliation in a meaningful and sustained manner,” he said.

“The work is ongoing and becoming part of our culture as a team and I’m seeing progress each year as our team thinks critically and authentically about the work we need to do to better understand the past and the present and work toward a more respectful and equitable relationship with Indigenous communities and individuals.”

Over the past couple years, the town has taken many steps to provide education opportunities for staff to gain a better understanding of the history of Indigenous peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, Taylor said.

Staff have learned more about Indigenous culture by attending speaker sessions, taking courses and joining ceremonies in the community, Taylor said.

In addition, many employees are involved in bringing learning to the community through events and ongoing symbols, including a land acknowledgment placed outside the municipal offices and public art weaved throughout Newmarket, he said.

Indigenous engagement is an important step in the town’s planning process as staff work with Indigenous consultants and Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, Taylor said.

Many are learning more about Indigenous history, culture and significant stories through their roles and seek further education to support the town’s efforts to recognize the first peoples on the lands.

Some examples include, but are not limited to, working with Trina Moyan nehiyaw iskwew (Plains Cree) from the Frog Lake First Nation in Northern Alberta on the Mulock Park plans/designs and Ryan Rice, an Indigenous art curator that will help with Newmarket’s Public Art component at the park, Taylor said.

Since 2021, the town has offered staff many opportunities to learn more, including virtual education sessions with Indigenous experts, an Orange Hat event that raised $2,445 for the Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services and educational resources shared in a regular diversity, equity and inclusion newsletter.

The town’s ongoing work toward Truth and Reconciliation has included: