The Northern Forestry Centre’s Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Program

The Northern Forestry Centre’s (NoFC) Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Program (IRRP) was developed in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 57^th Call to Action:

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.

To address this Call to Action, the IRRP team organizes cultural learning opportunities, workshops, and events for researchers at the centre to guide them along the path of reconciliation. Their goals are to:

• educate all staff on Indigenous histories, contexts, and current realities
• empower NoFC researchers to participate in active reconciliation
• work alongside Indigenous people to ethically co-develop research and braid Indigenous and western knowledge systems
• ensure research is valuable and relevant to Indigenous communities
• improve Indigenous representation in the federal public service and forestry sector

NoFC’s Elder-in-Residence

NoFC’s Elder-in-Residence, Elder Heather Poitras, guides the activities of the IRRP team. Elder Heather is a member of the Sawridge First Nation (Treaty 8) and grew up by the Kehewin Cree Nation (Treaty 6).

Elder Heather strives to ensure that her people, the original people of this country, are included in every aspect of society. Proud of both her First Nation and Métis culture, she has been dedicated to creating awareness of Canada’s true history, helping with the healing process of reconciliation, and improving relationships among people from all walks of life.

Elder Heather is one of Natural Resources Canada’s national Elders, providing cultural support on a national level. Her role includes leading prayers, teachings, and ceremonies, and providing guidance on the department’s reconciliation efforts.

Commitments to reconciliation

NoFC is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and recognizes the special relationship they have had with forests, lands, and waters since time immemorial. In February 2020, NoFC officially opened the We Walk Together Forward Indigenous Learning Centre, a cultural meeting space co-developed under the guidance of NoFC’s Elder-in-Residence.

Learning, respecting, and incorporating Indigenous Knowledge is crucial to building a full understanding of forest ecosystems. All knowledge has equal importance and validity. Seeking out and learning other ways of knowing and doing is an important and constant journey for NoFC staff.

Through NoFC’s Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Program, staff are committed to respecting Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, and protocols. NoFC staff commit themselves to building positive relationships with Indigenous partners to create mutually beneficial research and business results.