10/01/2026
Our hearts are with sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen First Nation) after yesterday's heartbreaking tragedy. On a day filled with emotion the loss of two Elders is a pain no community should have to bear.
A reflection on Truth and Reconciliation Day -
Now that the dust has settled, the Politicians have had their photo ops, and everyone has gone home after honouring Residential School Survivors, what is next?
Is National Truth & Reconciliation Day aka Orange Shirt Day the one of two times a year that people in power show up in solidarity with Indigenous People? I saw this word thrown around on multiple posts, and while a nice catchphrase what does this really look like in action?
We are in an election cycle with an opportunity to hold our elected officials and/or 'want to be elected' officials accountable. Do they get to show up at events when they are working to dismantle UNDRIP? Do they get to have their photo ops with Chief, Council, and Phyllis Webstad and go back to a platform that is silent on Indigenous Rights?
To hear Phyllis share the fear that she and her family experiences at the hands of White Supremacy and Racism sheds a light on the systems that were created with the sole purpose to diminish or worse eliminate Indigenous People.
To hear a Residential School Survivor speak out through her tears a call to action 'Believe the Survivors, we were there'.
To hear our friends at Semiahmoo First Nation share their hopes and dreams for the future, together should be enough for any one of us to take action, to walk with them every single day. Not just 2x a year.
Now is our chance as settlers to build awareness, to ensure that the spirit of Truth & Reconciliation Day is not extinguished, but rather is maintained as an eternal truth.
We have experienced so much love and good will on our Reconciliation journey - from our teachers guiding our way Ta7taliya Nahanee and Len Pierre to our all of our friends at Semiahmoo First Nation, and their trust and willingness to figure this out together. From leadership Chief Chappell, Councillors Joanne Charles and Jennine Cook to every member of the community who has welcomed us (Barb, Roxanne, Joan, Sherry, Chalise, Leah, Dar, Angie, Karen, all the Youth, and so many more) we are so grateful for all of you.
What would it take for our public officials to do more than pay lip service and show up for photo ops? Let's keep lifting the positive messages to drown out the racist trolls and dogwhistles.
Let's pose these questions to the people in our community that want to hold power. How do they plan to show up for Indigenous People every single day?
On September 21, 2024 we made a commitment to Semiahmoo First Nation as part of an Coast Salish Apology Ceremony. We strive to enact these commitments every single day. But guess what? This is not one sided, it is about coming together to do things differently. Alex House and Semiahmoo First Nation made a commitment to Walk Together.
There is so much we can learn from Indigenous People and their cultural traditions if only we were willing to do the work. Showing up to Indigenous driven events is the first step, committing to ongoing learning and unlearning is the next step, and there are many more steps from there to Reconciliation. The Truth being a key component.
Words don't adequately express the impact of this work on our team as individuals, and our organization. It is worth the effort.
If any of this resonates for you, join us!
A few photos from yesterday, and with the youth doing the work.
