Reconciliation is more than a word or a single day—it’s a call to action. It’s important to acknowledge the truth of our shared history and righting relationships between First Nation peoples who have lived on these lands since time immemorial and settlers. It’s about respecting the strength, innovation, and leadership that First Nation peoples have always carried.
My grandmother was a living example of that strength. She was a single mother of five who ran her own business at a time when it was illegal for First Nations women to do so. Despite laws and policies designed to assimilate and limit our opportunities, she built a livelihood for her family with determination, skill, and courage. Her story is not just one of survival—it’s one of resistance, leadership, and legacy.
Across BC, there many stories similar to hers—stories that show the strength, building, and leading despite the colonial barriers in their path. While we can see the progress that has been made, barriers still exist. Many colonial policies remain embedded in our institutions and Indigenous people continue to face discrimination, intergenerational trauma, and social inequities.
Reconciliation is an opportunity to face these truths head-on. It means understanding the impact of policies that banned our cultural practices and tried to silence our voices. We are faced with the challenge of dismantling the systems that continue to limit Indigenous potential today—and rebuilding new ones that uplift, empower, and honour Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
While breaking down harmful systems is necessary for change, it’s just as important to recognize the beauty and brilliance of Indigenous worldviews: our deep ties to the land, our languages that hold entire worldviews within a single word, and our governance systems that prioritize balance, consensus, and planning for the next seven generations. We have always had laws, education systems, and spiritual teachings—carried through story, ceremony, and relationships.
Our cultures are rich with reciprocity, respect, and responsibility. We hold up Elders as knowledge keepers, we understand time in cycles, not lines, and we live by teachings that remind us everything is connected. From the art that tells our histories, to the potlatches that honour generosity and community, to the storytelling that transfers law and legacy—these are not things of the past. They are alive and evolving.
Whether in education, business, government, or community, we all have a role to play. Reconciliation requires more than statements—it requires action. It begins with truth, and it continues with learning, listening, and changing how we show up.
My grandmother didn’t wait for permission to lead—and neither should we. The time for real, lasting change is now.
In gratitude to Statu Stsuhwum (North wind strong and clear) Angela Marston, guest blogger and Director of Indigenous Relations & Program Director, Indigenous Business Award
BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.
