At Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, we have a vision of “An Alberta where people and nature thrive”, realized through our focus areas of nature-based solutions and conservation, climate resilience and emissions reduction and circular economy. Brought to life through our initiatives and programs, this vision and these focus areas span Alberta and are naturally intertwined. Most importantly, our work connects to the lived environment, its histories and its people, including the original stewards of the land, water and wildlife. This connection deepens our commitment to not only environmental stewardship but also the vital work of reconciliation. 

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released the 94 Calls to Action to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. We recognize that working towards reconciliation is not limited to governments. Individuals and organizations also have a role to play in actively and collaboratively building public awareness, supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, implementing the Calls to Action and building long-term, meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples. 

As a funding organization, we are in a unique position where we need to ask: how can we actively work towards reconciliation? How do we build towards an organization in which the people, processes and systems are well-informed, integrated and accountable? And how can we reflect, remember and learn more about how our work affects, supports and relates to Indigenous Peoples across the province? 

It has been a long journey since the team at Alberta Ecotrust first started asking these questions, and it will be a long road ahead as we continue addressing them. This September, and in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we wanted to open up the conversation to our interest holders, colleagues and friends, and share the steps we’ve taken this past year to continue learning and addressing the Calls to Action through our everyday work. 

It starts with a few

Our staff not only drive initiatives at Alberta Ecotrust, but they also spark the organization’s culture and passion. With a strong intent to support and advance efforts that could respond to the principles and Calls to Action, thanks to the generous funding and support from the McConnell Foundation, we launched our internal Truth & Reconciliation Working Group (TRWG) in 2024.

Building on previous work, such as our internal Equity Community of Practice, and with support from leadership, this group was specifically founded with a commitment to decolonizing our learning, building and strengthening relationships and fostering a respectful, understanding and meaningful environment. The group consisted of staff representing each department at Alberta Ecotrust. From Investments to Admin, individuals from every team wanted to learn more and work together.

From the start, the TRWG acknowledged that decolonizing our internal knowledge and practices meant seeking guidance and support. In this, the group and our Leadership Team agreed that there were two instrumental and necessary pathways Alberta Ecotrust staff needed to start our journey towards reconciliation: engaging with Indigenous Advisors and for all staff to complete training related to Indigenous Education and Engagement. 

It builds with support 

The TRWG has been intentional about building relationships with individuals who bring lived knowledge and experience from across the diversity of Nations and Métis communities in Alberta, not as representatives of those territories, but as people who own relationships and teachings, and guide how we do this work. We are beyond honoured and thankful to now walk alongside our Indigenous Advisors:

• Rick Makokis, advising on perspectives from Treaty 6.

• Winona Lafreniere, an Indigenous knowledge keeper and community relations advisor with deep, longstanding relationships across Treaties 4, 6, 7 and 8.

• Dr. Kori Czuy, advising from experiences from land and gifted teachings from communities.

Relationship building of this kind takes time, humility and intention. It cannot be rushed. The TRWG continues to seek out further relationships with people who can help broaden and deepen the perspective guiding this work, understanding that no small group of advisors can speak for the full diversity of Nations or the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

Rick, Winona and Kori each have remarkable knowledge and experience. Beyond working extensively among Indigenous groups and communities, they also lead a variety of work across the province. Their insights and feedback on the processes and goals of the TRWG and Alberta Ecotrust as a whole have been a tremendous guiding light. 

In our time, they have already shown us various ways of thinking and connecting, such as beginning our working relationship with a smudge hosted by Winona Lafreniere at Central Public Library - Elders Guidance Circle Room, Treaty 7 Territory and a Pipe Ceremony hosted by Rick at Blue Quills University, Treaty 6 Territory. The Pipe Ceremony introduced the TRWG and our Leadership Team to traditional Saddle Lake Cree First Nation customs and provided a foundational space to begin collaborative reconciliation work with Indigenous guidance. These moments gave us a foundation to begin this work with humility, and we are grateful they were willing to share them with us.

With their guidance, and as a first step in revisiting our processes, the TRWG began the journey of finding an Indigenous Relations Training Provider. Through a public Request for Proposal, conversations with proponents, members of our network and recommendations from our Indigenous Advisors, Alberta Ecotrust connected and officially partnered with Tatâga Inc. 

It grows with guidance

Tatâga Inc. is an Indigenous management consulting firm that supports organizations and groups across Canada to move from intention to implementation. The team, which included Principal & Founder Ali Tapaquon and Consultant & Program Manager Lysandra Nothing, was incredibly encouraging and understanding from the beginning. 

In the first iteration of our work together, Tatâga Inc. completed a Reconciliation Assessment Report based on Alberta Ecotrust’s and individual staff’s journey with Indigenous Relations so far. Through a review of our documentation, processes, numbers and results from chats and surveys with staff, the two teams were able to understand the level at which Alberta Ecotrust could move forward. 

Further expanding on our usual meetings and approaches to collaboration, Ali and Lysandra invited our team and Indigenous Advisors to begin our learning journey with a Pipe Ceremony, hosted by Elder Tom Snow at the Iniikokaan Centre at Bow Valley College. Attending included being mindfully present and open, learning and preparing for what the ceremony might need, and being thankful for the space in which it took place. With guidance, Alberta Ecotrust staff were able to learn about the importance of prayer, song and the sharing of a feast (forever remembering Ali’s berry soup!).

Opportunities to continue learning about Indigenous Peoples in Alberta also took shape in the form of online workshops and land-based sessions. Hosted by Ali and Lysandra, and wonderfully supported by guest speakers, the discussions provided a range of insights into specific and necessary aspects of our work:

• Economy, Climate and Community

• Systemic Bias, Racism and Inequity in Environmental Work - With guest speaker: Steven Crowchild

• Applied Practices for Ethical Relationships - With guest speaker: Audra Foggin

• Ceremony and Land-Based Teachings - With guest speaker: Cassie Ayoungman

• Visiting kihcihkaw askî (Sacred Earth) for a Pipe Ceremony with Elder Tom Snow - Expanding on our learnings and an opportunity to reconnect.

• Visiting Many Guns Ranch with Jeanette Manyguns - Learning about Blackfoot culture through stories and the land.

It continues with commitment

These conversations have opened the space within our organization to ask more questions and more attentively look into our work and our surrounding space. With the support and guidance from our Indigenous Advisors, Rick, Winona and Kori, and the team at Tatâga Inc., Ali and Lysandra, those initial questions such as “How can we actively work towards reconciliation?” can begin to have a clearer pathway.

Our dedication towards Truth and Reconciliation will continue more boldly as we enter into the next phase of our work with Tatâga Inc. With a focus on implementation, governance and applied reconciliation support, the next steps will include strengthening our Indigenous partnership approach across the main areas of work at Alberta Ecotrust.

But we know reconciliation goes beyond these steps. While we look ahead at implementing new strategies and outlooks, we also recognize the need to continuously reflect back and give space to Indigenous voices, the importance of hearing and speaking of the survivors of the residential school programs, the communities and families they came from, and the children who were lost.

In sharing the steps we’ve taken towards Truth and Reconciliation, we aim to emphasize that there is still much work to be done to address the Calls to Action. Taking the first few steps, we continue with a commitment to move beyond learning and, together, realize our vision of an Alberta where people and nature thrive.