Blog

Content warning: discussing the recent news in Kamloops on Tk’emlups te Secwepemc land.

I write to you heavy with emotions regarding the recent discovery at the Kamloops residential school. This is a long-awaited confirmation of the cultural annihilation forced upon our indigenous communities. I feel the profound grief and anger of my ancestral lineage being of the Metis Nation, as well as a feeling of deep shame of being Canadian right now.

I sit in grief for the families of the children that were taken and never returned, and for the survivors of such horror leading to immense ancestral pain and rage that continues to be lived on a daily basis. May we honor the deceased and the experiences of the living so the whole story may be told and allow a space to begin their healing.

Many people were shocked to learn the full extent of Canada's history of indigenous segregation, assimilation, and genocide. Created and run by the hands of prime ministers, politicians, priests, and nuns, these systems of attempted eradication ran for nearly a century. This is the real and devastating truth of our Canadian history.

In honor of this Indigenous History Month, SICA will be giving our members free access to the ‘Aboriginal Awareness’ and ‘Indigenous Awareness and Engagement’ courses. These courses help to educate on Indigenous history, culture, and relations and we will be encouraging all SICA Directors, Staff, Instructors, Members, and their employees to learn more by taking them at no cost this month.

We all need an increased awareness of the culture, values, and history in regards to current challenges faced by Indigenous people in our country. May this be the beginning we all need to eliminate our ignorance in support of the pain suffered by the Indigenous people, and to address the true reconciliations required to begin to heal.

Scott Wild - CEO
Southern Interior Construction Association - SICA

Aboriginal Awareness
This online Aboriginal Awareness course introduces the concept of culture to set the foundation for discussion of Canada's Aboriginal people, their values, concerns, and history.
Redemption Code: 206838529

Indigenous Awareness & Engagement
Meaningful, authentic, and transparent workplace engagement with indigenous peoples presents an opportunity for organizations to harness the collective knowledge and capabilities that a diverse and fair workplace can provide.
Redemption Code: 202430254

To access the courses, follow these steps:
Code Redemption Instructions -

1. Go to www.sicatraining.ca
2. Enter a code in the Code Entry field, then click Submit.
3. If you already have an account, enter your username and password then click Login. If you don't have an account, click Create Account.

To further your learning there are numerous other useful links on the On Canada Project website. As well as a comprehensive free course from the University of Alberta on Coursera.