Summer Reconciliation Reading List

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Summer is upon us! And while this summer already feels quite different from years past, there are familiar things that I am looking forward to—and one of those things is sitting back and digging into a new book or two or three. We may not be able to travel as far or take part in the same summer activities we may be used to, but the restrictions we are under have given us the opportunity to do some personal reading and learning and reflecting.

For that reason (among others), this week’s update is a simple reconciliation-focused summer reading list. It is made up of all the books that The Federation’s Reconciliation Book Club has read to date. (In related news, the book club is about to begin its third year—you can learn more and sign up to participate here.)

As an organization, The Federation is committed to reconciliation and Indigenous resurgence. But we will not be able to move forward and make meaningful or lasting change with the mindsets and ways of thinking that got us to this point. We will not be able to fix the problems we are facing with the systems and stories that created those problems in the first place. Reconciliation, social justice, and anti-racism demand new ways of thinking.

Reading and talking about Indigenous stories, histories, and ideas is one small step in the direction we need to go. And for many, reading is the easiest place to start. It’s a way to take responsibility for learning (and un-learning) without burdening Indigenous community members with the work of teaching us.

And the truth is that sometimes I think we forget how simple and enjoyable reading is. For me, reading is the most accessible way to understand and explore other perspectives and points of view—experiences and ways of thinking that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to encounter. More than just stories, good books contain countless gifts that take the form of insights, ideas, advice, and questions. Plus, purchasing these books is a direct way of supporting Indigenous artists and their families and communities and you can also support Indigenous-owned bookstores like Massy Books or Iron Dog Books.

I encourage you to take a look at our summer reading list and pick a couple of the titles to dig into over the coming months. And consider joining the Reconciliation Book Club and encourage your staff and colleagues to sign up.

We have a lot of work ahead of us to make a society that is more just and equal and compassionate. And no matter where you are in your personal journey, I know you will find something on this list that will help you move forward.

Rebecca Ataya Lang
Associate Executive Director

 

 

2020 Select Standing Committee Submission

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Every year, The Federation presents during the consultations of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. This year was no different. (Although our presentation was done virtually rather than in-person, for the first time.)

Our submission and presentation highlighted both the strength and vulnerability of BC’s community social services sector and prioritized three main ideas or goals:

  1. Reconciliation-informed changes
  2. Support and fund the Social Services Sector Roundtable
  3. Trust and collaboration

You can read an excerpt from our submission below. The entire text can be viewed here.

In many ways, our province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a shining example of how to handle a crisis. But BC’s social services sector has been in crisis for decades. This government has proven that it knows how to do what needs to be done—that it’s possible to make change where and when change is needed.

It is absolutely possible to rebuild our province and it is absolutely possible to fix these problems and repair BC’s social services sector. The current government is already paying attention to areas that have been neglected for too long and we are very glad to see time and money and effort being put towards things like poverty reduction, affordable childcare, child and youth mental health plan, and community inclusion for people with disabilities. Commitments and funding to address homelessness and substance use and to support women fleeing violence are all steps in the right direction and give us hope for the future.

We know that this government is committed to delivering on its promises to provide the services that people depend upon and create a balanced economy that benefits everyone. But we also need you to know that fully supporting and collaborating with BC’s community social services sector is the only way those things are going to happen. Use our knowledge and experience. Invite us to your tables. Let us help you ensure that funding decisions and policy development are done in a way that respects and supports the organizations that are delivering those services and living out those policies—big or small, urban or rural, Indigenous or non-Indigenous.

There remains a lot of work to do but we are fully committed to working with our government colleagues in order to achieve lasting, positive change. We all understand that healthy, supported communities make good economic sense. But healthy, supported communities are not possible without a strong and sustainable community social services sector.

National Indigenous Peoples Day

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This Sunday is National Indigenous Peoples Day. Normally at this time, we would be sharing various events and celebrations that are taking place around the province. This year, we will all have to take a slightly different approach—re-thinking what it means to celebrate during a pandemic, re-learning the oft-ignored history of this country, and responding to the systemic racism and state violence that continues to plague our society.

Reconciliation at The Federation

Over the past few months (or years), you may have heard myself or a board member speak about The Federation’s commitment to reconciliation and resurgence. And you may be wondering what this looks like in our day-to-day work.

Truthfully, a lot of this work that takes place quietly and out of the spotlight. It often occurs in the many, many meetings we attend as part of The Federation’s initiatives and advocacy. Part of it is listening and seeking opportunities to amplify Indigenous voices and raising the profile of urban Indigenous and Métis communities. Part of it involves saying “no” to opportunities that conflict with our commitment to supporting Indigenous communities and their efforts to provide social services to their community members. And part of it means suggesting and developing different approaches when those conflicts arise.

Join the Reconciliation Book Club

One specific initiative that has reconciliation at its heart, is The Federation’s Reconciliation Book Club. We are preparing to launch into year three of the book club and are encouraging people to sign-up for another year of reading and learning together. The book club meets every other month to discuss a piece of literature (both fiction and non-fiction) by an Indigenous author. You can register to participate in the 2020/21 Reconciliation Book Club here. You can also vote on the books you would like to read over the next year.

The idea for the Reconciliation Book Club came out of the 2017 Social Policy Forum. It was a response to the hesitation, fear, and lack of knowledge expressed by non-Indigenous members that keep them from doing more to radically change and decolonize social services (and society in general).

Reading and talking about Indigenous stories, histories, and ideas is one step in that direction—it’s a way to take responsibility for learning without burdening Indigenous community members with the work of teaching us. (Plus, purchasing these books is a direct way of supporting Indigenous artists and their families and communities.)

Celebrating This Indigenous Peoples Day

This perspective was gifted to us a few years ago when The Federation was considering how to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and it is something we have continued to embrace since then. While each of us has a responsibility to celebrate and learn on days like this, we should be mindful of what we do and how we do it to ensure that our attempts at learning or growing do not put the burden back on our Indigenous community members.

This lesson is especially significant this year since opportunities to gather in our usual ways are not available. Yes, we are under strict restrictions but there are many ways we can learn and celebrate and acknowledge Indigenous people while staying safe. There is a lot of energy focused on the work of anti-racism right now and an array of calls to action available to you. There are also more Indigenous resources, books, movies, and podcasts than there have ever been.

We would love to hear how you choose to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day so we can share it with other members! Email marshall@fcssbc.ca or fill in this one-question form. One of the most inspiring and empowering aspects of this Federation is the learning that our members get from each other. By sharing your ideas about National Indigenous Peoples Day, you are giving others inspiration and opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

When it comes to the hard work of decolonization and anti-racism, it is hard to know where to start or what to do first. We are very thankful for the feedback and guidance we have received over the years from Indigenous members and colleagues, and we work hard to make sure our work doesn’t become their work.

So I invite you all to live into what altogether better really means—help each other figure out what do to and how to do it, hold each other accountable, and then recognize the steps you’ve taken together as you figure out the next ones.

Rick FitzZaland
Executive Director

COVID-19 Going Forward: Key Pieces of Information for Members

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Early on in the COVID-19 state of emergency, The Federation team decided that one of the best ways we could serve our members and the community social services sector as a whole would be to facilitate the flow of information, updates, and resources to and from organizations in the sector.

We know there is a lot of communication coming across your desks each and every day. But we also know that many of you are still left with important unanswered questions in spite of this. It can be hard to know whether you’ve just missed a key piece of information or whether that information simply does not exist! A lot of us are experiencing this feeling—a lack of certainty and understanding—and it comes on top of the stress, worry, and exhaustion I know many of you are also dealing with.

So today I want to share some key pieces of information from the past weeks that we at The Federation believe may be useful as you and your teams develop go-forward plans for your organizations. Below are details about protection against liability, children and youth, and incorporating an Indigenous lens in your go-forward plans.

Altogether better… and safer

To date, The Federation has been very intentional about only sharing public health information that has been vetted in some way by BC’s Office of the Public Health Officer and/or the BC Centre for Disease Control. In times like this, it is vital that we not contribute to confusion or misinformation.

A few weeks ago, we talked about the need for certainty in uncertain times and offered a reminder that this sector in particular is well-prepared for dealing with the chaos and complexity we’re facing because in many ways that’s what you do every day. It may feel overwhelming at times, but every single day for the past few months this sector has shown up for our clients and community members. And that has not gone unnoticed.

As the go-forward phase continues, you will receive guidance documents and you will receive both solicited and unsolicited advice. You may feel pressure from your funders, from your community members, and from your staff teams. Whatever comes next, The Federation will be here to support you however we can. Your fellow members will be here to support you. We will continue to face this and move forward together. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

BC’s Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has given us all good words that can help to guide us in the coming weeks and months. Be kind. Be calm. Be safe.

Rebecca Ataya Lang
Associate Executive Director

 

1: Reconciliation & Resurgence

The Federation’s commitment to living into reconciliation and resurgence needs to show up in our responses to COVID-19. The ways in which our community members experience the risks of COVID-19 and the impacts of public health measures are not always the same. History reminds us that past pandemics have wiped out entire Indigenous communities and the legacy of this history is still felt to this very day.

So as you develop your own go-forward plans, incorporating a reconciliation lens and an anti-poverty lens will help to reduce the additional harm and unnecessary barriers your clients and community members may face as we make our way through this pandemic. Here are some resources that may be useful to you.

The following books were highly recommended by our Reconciliation Book Club members and contain valuable history, stories, and insights.

2: Children and COVID-19

As you prepare to do more face-to-face time with children and families, many of you have raised concerns about managing the public health guidelines with children and youth. One very helpful resource you can access is the recording of the call MCFD did with Dr. Behn Smith from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer.

While the call was focused on the specific context of in-person visits for young people in care, the vast majority of the information shared would be useful to anyone doing work with children and youth. You can view the recording here and you can access the slides here.

3: Protection Against Liability

On April 2nd, Minister Farnworth brought forward a Ministerial Order that provides liability protection as it relates to the transmission of COVID-19 as a result of a person operating or providing an essential service. We have confirmed that the social services sector is included under the order. Please click the link and read the order carefully in full. (Not just this very brief summary!)