Truth and Reconciliation Statement

Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation


For over 50 years in Canada, The Award has been working with Indigenous communities, bringing our Award framework to Indigenous young people. We are committed to ensuring that our Award Framework becomes more inclusive to Indigenous peoples, by seeking out opportunities for more engagement with Indigenous partners and realizing opportunities for learning about the history of Indigenous peoples. At the Award we will continuing to create equitable spaces for our Indigenous staff, volunteers, community partners and young people.

 

We acknowledge that our name links to perceptions and issues of colonialism. Our Founder Prince Philip’s vision for the Award was that all young people regardless of background or life circumstance can participate and be given the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. This vision remains true today and we are committed to ensuring that the Award Framework can be used to complement the work of Truth and Reconciliation by supporting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people.

 

We stand with Indigenous peoples in their Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action to end the systemic inequities faced by Indigenous communities. Through the Award framework, we are committed to support Indigenous young people and their communities by providing meaningful opportunities and ways to participate in the Award and work together to build a better future.

 

Through our mission and vision at the Award, we continue to be guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, which establishes the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples and protects them from discriminatory policies and practices.

As a commitment to our work in Truth and Reconciliation below is some of the work we have done as an organization and what we commit to continuing to do going forward: 

Since 2015, we have been working to remove barriers within our organization for Indigenous communities. In 2017 we officially changed the name of one of our activity pillars. Up until this time, our Gold Project was called the Residential Project.  Understanding the generational trauma that was connected to this name, we worked with our international community to officially make this change.

 

With over 10,000 young people participating annually in our Award program, we recognize that we have a platform in which we can support allyship and create space for authentic dialogue on reconciliation. Since 2018 we have been hosting youth leadership forums for young people and have been using these as opportunities to address Truth and Reconciliation and how all people across Canada have a part to play. Through allyship workshops, blanket exercises, and conversations with elders we have supported over 500 young people so they can learn and discover how they can be an ally to Indigenous communities.

 

Since 2014 we have been working with young people in the Justice System in Alberta, Manitoba, and Northwest Territories to provide our framework as a pro-social youth program that promotes successful civic reintegration and resilient skill building. By partnering with Justice-related programs we can bring our program to youth populations, giving them the opportunity to develop the skills they need to find success in life once released from custody. 

Guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report, and in response to their calls to action, we will:

By offering learning/unlearning and capacity-building opportunities for Award leadership, staff, volunteers, partners and young people that will increase understanding of Indigenous peoples, cultures, languages, communities, histories, the impact of colonial actions, intergenerational trauma, and the role that we can play in walking the path of Reconciliation. (TRC Calls to Action, 57, 92iii and 62i). 

  • We commit to continue learning and educating our network of partners on the Treaties with Indigenous Peoples and acknowledging the land on which we operate. 

Nationally and locally, based on equality, good faith, and mutual respect, to work collaboratively towards equitable, accessible, and culturally relevant and responsive services for Indigenous children, youth, and families (TRC Call to Action 66).  

  • We commit to continuing to build meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities and ensure that our Award Framework serves all communities. 

To utilize the Award Framework as a pro-social youth program that promotes successful civic reintegration and resilient skill building. By partnering with Justice-related programs we can bring our program to youth populations, giving them the opportunity to develop the skills they need to find success in life once released from custody. (TRC Call to Action 33 and 37) 

  • We commit to seeking opportunities to support Indigenous young people, through our partnerships with Justice related programs.  

By dedicating it as an additional day in which we provide learning and training for staff and volunteers in our path to supporting the reconciliation process.  By standing alongside Indigenous peoples we will honour survivors, their families and communities as well as publicly commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools in the journey to reconciliation. (TRC Call to Action 80)

  • We commit to continuing to ensure our staff have learning opportunities to further their understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action 

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award operates across Canada in all provinces and territories. From coast to coast to coast, we acknowledge that this is the traditional and ancestral territory of all the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples since time immemorial. We are grateful to be working on these lands which are home to over 600 Indigenous nations, groups, and communities.  
  
With this acknowledgment, the Award in Canada thanks those Indigenous people who still live on and care for these shared lands. As a visitor to our site and those who engage with our organization, we invite you to continue to educate yourself and others and speak up for and support the rights of Indigenous people in whatever ways that are accessible to you. Together, we believe we can help to work towards building authentic and honest reconciliation.”