North American Ed - The ecology of childhood

3.4 Taking action towards Reconciliation

Achieving reconciliation is like climbing a mountain — we must proceed a step at a time. It will not always be easy. There will be storms, there will be obstacles, but we cannot allow ourselves to be daunted by the task because our goal is just and it also necessary” — The Honourable Murray Sinclair, CC, Mazina Giizhik-iban, 2015.

A first step towards Reconciliation can be to understand historical events that affected Indigenous peoples. Some history about residential schools is available in EC 2.5. This history has had a negative impact on society in the country now known as Canada.

To address this negative impact, Reconciliation is needed. Watch Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, Anishinaabe writer, editor, professor, and activist, describe Truth and Reconciliation.

While learning about the truth, learn to understand your position within it. General information about considering your positionality – your place in society based on social identities – is available in EC 1.1 (Intersectionality). You can also determine your relation to historical events in Canada and how this affects behaviours today. You or a family member may have attended a residential school and you notice hugging is not common in your family. You may live on land originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples or your relatives may say inaccurate, negative and racist comments about Indigenous peoples at family gatherings. Find out this history and how it impacts you and your family. At the same time, you can also learn about yourself. This is not easy, but important, as you consider how to work towards Reconciliation.

David A. Robertson is a two-time Governor General’s Literary Award winner and has won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award and the Writers’ Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award. He has received several other accolades for his work as a writer for children and adults, podcaster, public speaker, and social advocate. He was honoured with a Doctor of Letters from the University of Manitoba in 2023 and a Doctor of Laws from the University of Lethbridge in 2025. He is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and lives in Winnipeg. In the clip below, he suggests learning and using that learning to move forward in Reconciliation.

In his book, “Who We Are: Four questions for a life and a nation”, The Honourable Murray Sinclair, CC, Mazina Giizhik-iban, shares the great questions of life that came from Elders of all walks and cultures of the world. These questions can help you learn more about yourself. They include:

1. Where do I come from?
2. Where am I going?
3. Why am I here?
4. Who am I?

His son, Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, describes these questions as creation stories in the clip below.

In the next two clips, Dr. Sinclair explains why early childhood educators are so important in the journey of Reconciliation and David Robertson suggests accepting your role.

Now listen as Dr. Sinclair describes a strategy to work towards Reconciliation.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Calls to Action were introduced earlier in this module. Call to Action #12 is especially important to early childhood educators as it calls for the development of culturally appropriate curricula in early childhood education programs for Indigenous families. This may seem like a daunting task. To consider the curriculum and pedagogical practice you develop with children, it may help to use the 5 Rs (first developed as 4 Rs) to consider how to move forward in this work.

Kirkness and Barnhart (2001), describe using the 4 Rs to provide students with “emphasis on the need for a higher educational system that respects them for who they are, that is relevant to their view of the world, that offers reciprocity in their relationships with others, and that helps them exercise responsibility over their own lives” (para. 1). Although initially intended for post-secondary students, these values are useful for anyone working with children and families of any age.

A short description of these values from a Reconciliation perspective is found on the University of British Columbia (UBC) website.

Listen to David Robertson as he describes representation in the next two clips. Note the similarity between his description and that of relevance in the 5 Rs.

Restoule (2019) built on the 4 Rs to include a fifth R: Relationship. Relationship refers to those between children and adults as well as those with community and self. Restoule suggests relationship underpin each of the other values.

In the following clip, David Robertson describes how to build relationships with people, the land and the water.

Now listen to Carol Rowan, as she describes the importance of relationships. Carol Rowan’s work was introduced in CL 3.3.

Now check your understanding of the 5 Rs using an early childhood lens.

Listen as Lori Huston, early childhood educator, Métis scholar and doctoral candidate in Curriculum Studies at the University of British Columbia provides a message for ECEs to encourage Truth and Reconciliation.

Now watch as Huston explains using gifts in early childhood education curriculum.

In the following clips, Dr. Niigaan Sinclair describes Indigenous Education and David Robertston shares the possibilities for Reconciliation with children.

Now read an example of Reconciliation in a family child care home.

In 2015, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) released the 6 Actions of ReconciliACTION, developed to assist the public in supporting their work towards Reconciliation.

These actions are:

• Learn the history between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples;
• Understand the history and legacy of residential schools;
• Explore the unique intersections we have between treaty, constitutional, Indigenous, and human rights we have in Canada;
• Recognize the rich contributions that Indigenous peoples have made to Canada;
• Take action to address historical injustices and present-day wrongs; and
• Teach others.

The 6 actions of ReconciliACTION can be applied to any of the Calls to Action or even beyond them. Take some time to review the steps on how to create your own ReconciliACTION Plan.