The fourth annual City of Winnipeg Indigenous Accord (WIA) Signing Ceremony took place outdoors on September 9, 2021 in the City Hall Courtyard. This event, which was postponed from the summer of 2020, saw 39 new partners signing the Accord which confirms their ongoing commitment to reconciliation. Dodie Jordaan Executive Director was on hand to sign on behalf of Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.
Event host Mayor Brian Bowman spoke of changes taking place in our community and that the truth was just beginning to be heard. Next to climate change, Mayor Bowman identified reconciliation as the single most important and greatest challenge for all Canadians and encourages us all to work toward meaningful reconciliation.
The Winnipeg Indigenous Accord is more than a simple document, it is a coming together as a community to respond to all areas of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action: health, education, child welfare, justice, business, sport, arts, culture & heritage, faith, media, language and culture.
Emcee Kimberley Puhach, the Chair of the Mayor’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, took time to remind Accord Partners that many have committed to incorporating land acknowledgements and that this has a deep impact for Indigenous people as every facet of our being is tied to the land – our laws, spirituality, ways of being and survival. Mother Earth is at the top and we as people are at the bottom of the chain of life. She challenged all present to really think about what making a land acknowledgement means and to ensure that acknowledgements don’t become just a performative action.
To read the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord, see a list of partners, read partner progress reports and more, visit https://winnipeg.ca/indigenous/wia/default.stm