Indigenous Talking Circle
Contact:
Michael Bopp
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05 May 2022 |
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 Cochrane
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Community Talking Circle: Collaboration for Cochrane Indigenous Innovation Centre
Stoney Nakoda Elders & Knowledge keepers, along with Rotary Club Cochrane and supporting community partners, are leading the development of a much-needed Indigenous Centre in Cochrane. This group has been working to build a circle of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work together to rebuild our society from the ground up by creating a platform of unity, collaboration, mutual respect and justice. The objective is to establish an Indigenous Innovation Centre in the town of Cochrane that is managed and operated by Indigenous people for Indigenous people, with the active encouragement and support of non-Indigenous allies.
WHY? Club of Cochrane has been working to build relationships and increase our understanding with Indigenous people as part of their activities for several years. Community needs assessments, projects and programs have historically been devoid of any Indigenous history, perspective, experience, culture and knowledge. As a result, the community is missing out on the rich perspectives that the Indigenous world view offers, and Indigenous peoples are invisible within the social and economic infrastructure of the community.
We want this project to be an exercise that starts to answer those questions as we actively work together to enact the 94 Calls to Action (TRC, 2015) in our community. Being built with and walking beside the traditional keepers and stewards of this land, we hope to co-create the space and opportunity for Indigenous voice and activity to be lead, showcased, nurtured, developed...to light a path for us all forward.
WHAT? The Indigenous Advisory for this project and the community partners are facilitating a conversation circle for Indigenous people living in and near Cochrane to have their voice inform the project, the center, its governance, and its activities. There will be ceremony, refreshments and sharing.