RECONCILIATION: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER - UNDERSTANDING RECONCILIATION
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communities. This stereotypical or paternalistic language can be seen to perpetuate discrimination. One respondent talked about Black and Indigenous people as one and the same. The comment was intended to draw similarities between the discrimination of Indigenous Africans and Indigenous people in Canada based on colonial practices and oppressive government policies. Based on the oppressive treatment, both groups experienced significant harm which resulted in a legacy of hardship and inequality. Three respondents share information about reconciliation and raise awareness amongst their colleagues. One respondent stated that they shared what they learn from Indigenous communities (e.g., differing perspectives on how various aspects of housing can be approached through an Indigenous lens) with their colleagues. Another respondent indicated that they are open and willing to share what they know about Indigenous issues with colleagues and that they create space for colleagues to ask questions. Two respondents communicated that their work is valuable in terms of addressing disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples within housing. They further explained that their work involves providing housing and shelter for Indigenous peoples, thus supporting reconciliation. One respondent was unsure if reconciliation is applicable to their work. This perspective raises the issue that reconciliation can be seen as a siloed action and that it is not everyone’s responsibility to uphold. One respondent was not fully supportive of the term ‘reconciliation’ as it pre-supposes a good relationship between BC Housing and Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations. This perspective speaks to the issue that reconciliation is a term adopted to implement a process for addressing past harm and to ensure that reconciliation is not just considered to be based on a positive relationship. 4.3.2.2 How BC Housing Currently Operationalizes Reconciliation Staff were generally not aware of how BC Housing defines reconciliation or indicated that there was no agreed-upon definition; however, two respondents interpreted BC Housing’s definition of reconciliation as building, enhancing, and repairing relationships with Indigenous peoples, another by delivering housing on-Nation, and another by acknowledging and addressing inequities against Indigenous peoples. The majority of staff interviewed indicated that BC Housing currently promotes reconciliation by supporting collaborative or respectful relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations. Examples stated by staff members include the creation of an Indigenous Procurement Policy in 2016 and the transfer of responsibilities for provincially funded Indigenous housing stock to AHMA. We heard that building capacity within BC Housing to support reconciliation through hiring practices and training is an important part of operationalizing reconciliation. Examples provided for hiring practices are:
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