National Truth and Reconciliation Day

Sep 30

What is a settler? Official definition states it as, “a person who moves with a group of others to live in a new country or area.”

Now, dictionaries and definitions in the English language are creations of colonialism, or at least the colonial system so many of us still use and function under. This means understanding our representation as settlers needs to be acknowledged more, not just the stated definition, but much more than that.

We say this, because our organization’s mission is to connect people with water. Connection is the greatest strength we have in better understanding our relationship with water and the natural world, ultimately leading us to want to protect and restore it.

But, our work started on the water, it became actionable in the courtroom, and has morphed into community and civic engagement. All this is under a colonial system.

A colonial system that initiated genocide of indigenous peoples, created residental schools, stole land and catastrophized generational trauma for the indigenous peoples of the lands we pride ourselves in protecting.

This September 30th, marks the third Truth and Reconciliation Day in what is known as Canada by many of us. Three years is minuscule in comparison to the time the stewards of Turtle Island have been caring for our lands and waters. Which means we have years, decades, centuries and generations to go before we can start really speaking about making amends with the atrocities, degradation and harm done to people and the planet.

So, today we honor First Nations, Inuit, and Métis survivors and their families and communities. Swim Drink Fish, as an organization rooted in colonialism and settler ancestry, stands in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and communities.

We ask that you also join us in acknowledging the truth about residential schools and their lasting effects on Indigenous people. We ask that you join us in the reconciliation process by cultivating equitable, unprejudiced, and respectful relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis People and advocating for the political, educational, economic, and environmental rights for survivors.

We ask you to join us in owning our past and present, to better our future. Acknowledging our existence on stolen land is a relatively new concept in settler society, but needed if we are to genuinely and meaningfully believe in bettering ourselves as stewards alongside our first peoples –– listening, learning, supporting and acting.

Three years is minuscule in our colonial society, which means the time is now, to do better as settlers to decolonize our work.