DIVERSEcity recognizes that our work takes place on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the SEMYOME (Semiahmoo), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and the sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nations. The knowledge, traditions and ongoing contributions of these communities are significant in providing context to the work we do, and DIVERSEcity recognizes the importance that reconciliation has in building truly inclusive and strong communities.
Learning about Indigenous history in Canada and the current realities Indigenous peoples face is a vital part of the Canadian immigration journey for any newcomer, as well as the service providers and stakeholders who support them.
In our own journey of learning at DIVERSEcity, we are compiling resources that help us better understand Canada from the Indigenous perspective, and are sharing these resources below for our clients, staff and peers. This is an evolving list, so please email marketing@dcrs.ca if you have a resource you would like us to add.
Truth and Reconciliation
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
The NCTR is a place of learning and dialogue about the residential school experience. It was created by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), which listed to survivors, families and communities affected by the residential school system, while educating Canadians about their experiences.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Final Reports
Read the final reports from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, including Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future; What We Have Learned; The Survivors Speak; Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action; along with additional reports about Canada’s residential schools history, legacy and reconciliation.
Indigenous Organizations
Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada.
British Columbia Assembly of First Nations
The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) represents and advocats for the 203 First Nations in British Columbia.
Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) supports the work of their people at the community, nation or international level, in their common fight for the recognition of our aboriginal rights and respect for their cultures and societies.
Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association
Facebook page of FRAFCA.
Surrey Indigenous Leadership Committee
A coalition of organizations that advocate for the more than 13,000 Indigenous people living in Surrey, including through its Skookam Lab, a social innovation lab that addresses the high rate of Indigenous child and youth poverty in Surrey.
Commemorative Days
National Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month, which recognizes the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Government of Canada website about the creation of National Indigenous Peoples Day.
National Indigenous Peoples Day in City of Surrey
The City of Surrey’s annual National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations.
Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day, annually on September 30, is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. Wearing orange is done to remember the residential school experience, and to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Launched in Canada in 2021 on Orange Shirt Day, the newly established National Day for Truth and Reconciliation takes place September 30, and honours survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.
Guides & Information for Newcomers and Other Non-Indigenous Canadians
First Peoples’ Guide: A Guide for Newcomers
An informational booklet created by the City of Vancouver
Surrey First Peoples Newcomer Guide
An informational resource by the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership. The guide is available in various first languages.
Disrupting Current Colonial Practices and Structures in the Immigration and Non-Profit Sector
In September 2020, AMSSA released a booklet written by Riel Dupuis-Rossi, Charlene Hellson, and Vikki Reynolds to help the immigration sector and non-profit organizations centre Indigenous knowledge on the impact of colonialism and the process of settler reflexivity.
Xwi7xwa Library at UBC
Xwi7xwa Library is a centre for academic and community Indigenous scholarship at UBC. Everyone is welcome to access this resource.
Article on remains found at Kamloops residential school by Canadian Press via APTN
The remains of 215 children have been found buried on the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation said in a news release Thursday that the remains were confirmed last weekend with the help of a ground-penetrating radar specialist. Read the full article …
Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions.
Local First Nations
Kwantlen First Nation
Official website of the Kwantlen First Nation.
Katzie First Nation
Facebook page of the Katzie First Nation. A history of their nation provided by the Katzie people.
Kwikwetlem First Nation
Official website of the Kwikwetlem First Nation.
Musqueam People
Official website of the Musqueam People.
Semiahmoo First Nation
Official website of the Semiahmoo First Nation.
Tsawwassen First Nation
Official website of the Tsawwassen First Nation.
Qayqayt First Nation
Facebook page of the Qayqayt First Nation.
Indigenous Support and Crisis Lines
KUU-US Crisis Line Society
KUU-US Crisis Line Society is a registered charity that provides 24-hour crisis services though education, prevention and intervention programs for Indigenous people.
Adult & Elder Crisis Line: 250-723-4050
Child & Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040
Toll Free in BC: 1-800-KUU-US17 (1800-588-8717)
Métis Crisis Line in BC Toll Free: 1-833-MétisBC (1833-638-4722)
Indian Residential School Survivors Society
IRSSS Toll-Free Line: 1-800-721-0066
24-hour National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
Provincial and Federal Governments
BC Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)