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Carolinian Canada’s Journey Toward Truth and Reconciliation and the Indigenous Leadership Pillar’s Story

As we approach this year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, the Carolinian Canada team is reflecting on our organisational journey toward reconciliation, what this has looked like in practice, and how we plan to continue to this vital work. 

Reconciliation is an ongoing process. For our organisation, it has looked like staff and board learning; implementing new organisational policies, strategic endeavors, and working groups; shifting toward Two-Eyed Seeing practices; building solidarity with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, organisations, and communities; and committing to concrete steps that go beyond acknowledgment. 

In 2018, following a board directive and foundational work of Brandon Doxtator, Carolinian Canada took a major step in its journey toward advancing Truth and Reconciliation by committing to centering Indigenous leadership and decolonizing the organisation. In 2022, from the leadership and vision of Brandon Doxtator and Sam Whiteye, the Indigenous Leadership Pillar (ILP) of the organisation was born as a central pillar driving Carolinian Canada’s work. 

The ILP is a bridge between First Nations and Carolinian Canada’s network, supporting and advocating for Indigenous priorities at the forefront. The ILP amplifies Indigenous voices, fosters meaningful partnerships, and integrates Indigenous Knowledge into conservation efforts, paving the way for reconciliation in environmental stewardship. 

The ILP’s vision and role is unique in the conservation sector as it leads with values rooted in accountability, reciprocity, and transparency. The ILP's goal is to build capacity for Indigenous representation in the sector, support youth in connecting back to the land, and shift the narratives of how conservation has been done by creating and implementing safe and ethical space. By integrating Two-Eyed Seeing with a community-based approach, the ILP works toward fulfilling the role for seven generations forward in stewardship and collaboration.  

In practice, this vision looks like showing up for Indigenous communities by supporting their endeavours with time, energy, presence, and resources. It looks like dismantling structures and barriers within the organisation and the greater network that work against the objectives of Indigenous nations. It looks like finding ways to partner and collaborate with Indigenous nations to align our work with Indigenous-defined priorities.  

To help ground our work, the organisation developed an Accountability Statement and an Ethical and Safe Space policy in 2022, both of which outline how we approach relationship building with Indigenous communities intentionally and how we hold ourselves accountable in our actions. 

Carolinian Canada also embedded the commitment to centre Indigenous knowledge and leadership in everything we do in the latest strategic plan in 2024. The strategic plan states that the organisation will work toward this commitment by: 

  1. Creating ethical space across the Coalition to strengthen relationships, trust and support self-determination.
  2. Building capacity for Indigenous leadership within Carolinian Canada and its network through expanding and supporting CCC’s Indigenous Leadership Pillar.
  3. Supporting Indigenous leadership for healthy ecosystems across traditional territories by actively networking and supporting Indigenous leaders, youth, and grassroots groups doing the work, e.g., bursary/symposium.
  4. Advancing Two-Eyed Seeing across the Coalition to guide collective action and accountability for healthy landscapes.
  5. Working with Indigenous partners to co-create an ethical ecosystem economy. 

As a result from all this groundwork, the ILP has achieved many milestones, including but not limited to... 

  • Co-hosting the first Guardians of the Land Symposium with Kayanase in 2025
  • Establishing an Indigenous Environmental Network for the Carolinian Zone
  • Launching an Indigenous Student Bursary 

The ILP continues to lead this essential work in Carolinian Canada, envisioning a future rooted in growth, opportunity, and empowerment.  

We encourage groups in our network to join us in this journey and embed the practice of reconciliation in your organisations, not only on September 30th but all year. Start a strategic endeavor to decolonize, integrate Indigenous leadership, and shift your policies and practices. Bring action to your efforts. 

Visit our living collection of resources to help you take action on September 30th and beyond: caroliniancanada.ca/orange