National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2023 commemorates the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

The statutory holiday was enacted by the Canadian government in 2021 to honour the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities who have been impacted.

Meet Susan: Our Customer Success Manager

Susan Langdon is our dedicated Customer Success Manager here at TeamFund. She initially joined the team in 2020 to assist with deliveries. Over time, her role has expanded, and she is an integral part of our team. (You can say hello in the chatbot!)

Juggling the responsibilities of being a mother of three children, Susan is a pro at coordinating multiple schedules. As a soccer mom, she is no stranger to fundraising and supports many youth sports teams and groups in their campaigns.

On top of that, her delicious recipes serve as a delightful addition to our blog – we encourage you to give them a try. They are perfect for busy nights on the go.

When I asked about her role at TeamFund, Susan candidly remarked, “I don’t think I could go back to an office!”

TeamFund prioritizes fostering a culture of work-life balance, inclusivity, and participating in meaningful work.

Susan appreciates the flexibility that allows her to prioritize family commitments, like attending her children’s soccer games, and remain connected with the youth sports community as her children transition into adulthood.

Susan’s Heritage: The Michel Band

Susan’s roots trace back to the Michel band located in Treaty 6 Territory, just outside of the St. Anne area, west of Edmonton.

The Michel band occupies a unique place in Canadian history, being the only indigenous band to be collectively enfranchised and lose their status as an entire group.

Presently, over 750 Michel members sit on a “general membership list” of indigenous people in Canada with no indigenous nation or band associated with them. Although members of the Michel band have successfully reclaimed Indian Status as individuals, they continue to struggle to gain unified recognition.

You can learn more about the Michel band in the articles below:

The Impacts of Residential Schools

Right to Left:<br />
Baby, Susan Mother<br />
Ivie, Susan Grandmother<br />
Alice, Susan Great Grandmother<br />
Alice, Great Great Grandmother<br />
Victoria Calihoo, important figure in Alberta history

In the image above, you will see Susan’s mother (the baby). Holding her is Ivie, Susan’s Grandmother. To the left of that is Alice, Susan’s Great-Great-Grandmother. Finally, on the far left is Victoria Calihoo, an important figure in Albertan history.

The Harsh Reality of Residential Schools

Susan’s maternal grandmother was one of many indigenous people in Canada who experienced the hardships of residential schools. She provided a glimpse into the poor conditions endured by indigenous students, relaying a story from one of her cousins.

Often, students were provided little to eat. The schools aimed to teach indigenous people to integrate into Canadian society, with boys having additional responsibilities to farm the fields.

Susan can vividly recall a story her grandmother shared about after a long day on the farm; the boys were given a reward for their hard work. The reward was one whole potato at lunch. To them, it was the most cherished meal during their time at the school.

This story stuck and has been passed down as a reminder of how far things have come, but it’s not that far in the past. So we can’t forget.

While the last residential school in Canada closed its doors in 1996, the impact of these experiences continues. Acknowledging the real intergenerational effects on the descendants of survivors is crucial.

Susan Believes By Addressing Gaps in Education, We Can Empower Indigenous Communities

For Susan, Truth and Reconciliation is not about blame and guilt. It’s about educating people so that we don’t repeat past mistakes.

In 2017, a Canada National Reporter poll revealed that 56% of respondents in Alberta didn’t learn about residential schools during their education.

There is optimism on this front, as the Government of Alberta committed in 2014 to work towards including residential schools in the curriculum. The first iteration of the new curriculum was released in Fall 2023, with revisions to be made in Winter 2024.

Reconnecting With Culture

Beyond educating the general public, it is also essential to provide indigenous people with opportunities to reconnect with the language, culture, and history eroded by the historical attempts to erase indigenous culture through residential schools.

Susan reconnects with her heritage and fellow band members over Zoom and Facebook Groups. She is excited to be learning Cree, the indigenous language of the Michel people.

She is also an incredibly creative person in her spare time. She is self-taught in beadwork and enjoys painting.

By connecting with fellow band members in Facebook Groups, Susan has also learned some of the traditional recipes from her culture.

“Through these experiences, you’re able to find out who you’re related to, talk to one another, and share our experiences,” Susan emphasizes. Storytelling keeps the memories and culture alive. Through connections and storytelling, we can better understand what reconciliation means.

A Grateful Acknowledgement

Thank you to Susan for sharing your story.

For much of history, the stories of residential schools were buried. Sharing wisdom and experiences through storytelling is one way indigenous groups have reconnected with their heritage.

There are hundreds of bands and reserves across Canada with unique histories, languages, and cultures. We encourage you to find out whose land you live on to make progress toward acknowledging the history of indigenous groups near you.*

** To find out the indigenous groups for your area, try searching [Your City] Land Acknowledgement.

Kinisitawêyihtênaw ôta êhayâyahk têpakohp tipahamâtowin askiy tasi kayâs Kaskitêwayasit, Pikaniwiyiniw, Mihkowiyiniw, Tsuut’ina, Nêhiyaw êkwa âpihtawikosisân. Kinistawêyihtam kahkiyaw iyiniwak otipêyimisow êkwa Inuit ôta kâkipêayâcik.

TeamFund acknowledges that we are on Treaty 7 territory, the traditional meeting grounds, gathering place and travelling route to the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai, Tsuut’ina, Cree and Metis of Region 3.

We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.