Reciprocity in action: decolonizing our workplaces

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation takes place annually on September 30th. The day was established in 2021 to provide an opportunity to learn about, recognize, and commemorate the legacy of residential schools in Canada.

September 30th has historically and continues to be known as Orange Shirt Day.

While National Day for Truth & Reconciliation provides an important opportunity to acknowledge, reflect, and learn, the real work needs to take place every day – individually, and within the workplace. Doing so requires an understanding of colonization and reconciliation, and the responsibility we all have with respect to decolonization.

What is colonization?

Colonization in Canada refers to the historical and ongoing process where Indigenous peoples were displaced from their lands, cultures, and autonomy by government and political powers. This included forced governance structure, laws, and social systems which disregarded Indigenous ways of life, and often resulted in trauma, systemic oppression, and marginalization. Colonization continues to affect Indigenous communities today through policies, socio-economic disparities, cultural disconnection, and land disconnection.

In our last post, we talked about cultivating a safe workplace, based on Elaine Alec’s work. Further to her work, colonization is fear-based and leads to sickness, exclusion, oppression, and shame. The Indian Act was created to control, oppress, exclude, and hold Indigenous people back. Decolonization, on the other hand, is love-based and leads to wellbeing, inclusion, freedom, and validation.

Reconciliation and right relations

Right relations refers to the process of restoring balance and building respectful, equitable relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Reconciliation draws on Indigenous teachings of interconnectedness and reciprocity where relationships are built on mutual respect, trust, accountability, and recognition of Indigenous rights. This means addressing the harms of colonization, upholding treaties, and actively working towards reconciliation through meaningful actions, not just words.

Right relations and reconciliation requires action. To work towards it – to have it – we all need to do the work to create change and support Indigenous communities. This is less about attending events or raising money, and more about what the people who have the power to make change are doing, can do, and will do to make meaningful change. Only when we begin to take small steps towards larger ones, can we have an impact.

What decolonization looks like

As outlined by Nikki Sanchez in her Ted Talk (Decolonization is for Everyone), decolonization is represented by:

  • Living without paralyzing guilt and shame of your identity and the social identity you’ve inherited
  • Giving up social and economic power and privilege that directly disempowers, appropriates, and invisibilizes others
  • Dismantling the patriarchy
  • Doing the work to find out who you are, where you came from, how you got there, and committing to building communities that work together to find out where we’re going (together) and what our individual roles and responsibilities are
  • Celebrating who we are and connecting the unique knowledge we each bring to work together to solve global challenges

Actions we can all take towards reconciliation and decolonization

Within Canada, (and beyond), colonization connects us all. For that reason, we are all responsible for taking action towards decolonization. This includes:

  • Learning who you are, where you came from, and where you are now – including whose land you live on, their history, and how you benefit from that history  
  • Acknowledging historical (and ongoing) wrongs
  • Doing the work to understand the deep and continuing impact of colonization
  • Recognizing the autonomy and governance of Indigenous Nations and understanding that Indigenous people have had ways of governing themselves for centuries, which may not align with corporate or colonial processes
  • Engaging in meaningful partnerships – collaborating with Indigenous people and communities as equal partners in decision-making processes
  • Being patient and understanding that things take time, and that Indigenous people and communities may move at a different pace (which is not wrong, or bad)
  • Upholding Indigenous rights by supporting the implementation of frameworks like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and working to understand the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
  • Teaching your families, supporting Indigenous events, artists, organizations, participating in cultural teachings, and committing to ongoing learning

How employers can support reconciliation and decolonization

As an employer or leader, you can’t expect your employees to practice cultural humility and cultivate safe spaces for others if you don’t do so yourself, and as an organization overall. Part of that is about encouraging and supporting employees to use their own language, know and own their lineage, respectfully challenge the status quo, and to speak up/use their voices. Making a commitment to support reconciliation and decolonization in the workplace also includes:

  • Allowing space for cultural practices
  • Making an effort to cultivate safe spaces with patience and the discipline to listen and learn (as opposed to responding, fixing, or changing)
  • Providing relevant orientation, training, and resources to all employees
  • Hosting and actively promoting open and honest conversation with your teams
  • Reflecting on/committing to addressing racial injustice, equity, and inclusion
  • Actively working to decolonize human resources and employment practices (where possible) with an understanding of the colonial systems many of these were originally founded upon
  • Supporting education about Indigenous history and providing/allowing time for your teams to do so while at work
  • Refer to our 2023 post for additional details

As Nikki Sanchez stated, “This history is not your fault. But it is your responsibility.” We must all do the work to learn, understand, and take steps towards decolonization and reconciliation.

We acknowledge the historical and ongoing harm done by colonization and can support you in developing decolonized HR practices.