Commitment to ReconciliACTION
Across the organization approximately 35% of the families we provide services to are Indigenous. We have committed to learning how to better serve Indigenous families, and this has meant intentionally learning how to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing into our programs.
The Children’s Cottage Society is committed to reconciliation. Our agency recognizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization on Indigenous Peoples.
We are dedicated to fostering a spirit of Reconciliation and building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.
Indigenous Strategy
The Children’s Cottage has served vulnerable families in Calgary over the past four decades. We provide support to help families cope with crisis and become more resilient, strengthen parenting skills, enhance their natural networks of support, and ensure that children are safe and have an opportunity to develop to their full potential.
Across the organization approximately 35% of the families we provide services to are Indigenous. We have committed to learning how to better serve Indigenous families, and this has meant intentionally learning how to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing into our programs.
The Children’s Cottage Society is committed to reconciliation. Our agency recognizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization on Indigenous Peoples. The Children's Cottage Society is dedicated to fostering a spirit of reconciliation and building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.
We acknowledge that the Children's Cottage Society operates on traditional Treaty Seven territories, and we honor their unique histories, cultures, and contributions. We understand that reconciliation is an ongoing process that requires active engagement, learning, and collaboration.
Our agency has developed an Indigenous strategy that supports our reconciliation work. It includes the following broad strategy domains.
The Children’s Cottage has worked to develop a particularly strong relationship with the Stoney Nakoda community. Over many years we have sat with Elders, community members, and program staff and listened to what their community needs are. From these conversations we have developed not only a strong working relationship but also an understanding of what we can contribute to the strengthening of their communities in general and their families in particular.
We have outlined our commitment and will fulfill the following objectives:
The Children’s Cottage Society are so grateful for the following donors who support our Indigenous Strategies:
Ashling Foundation
Council membership:
The Indigenous Advisory Committee will consist of up to 8 volunteer positions which will include the Manager of Indigenous Strategy and Development, appointed programming staff and Indigenous peoples who are knowledgeable of their culture and have played official or unofficial leadership roles. These members shall include:
- Three people originally from each of the reserve communities of the Treaty 7 area. These representatives will be individuals who reside in Calgary or in close approximation.
- Three people who reside within Calgary and are representative of Nations not included in Treaty 7, such as Cree, Ojibway, Mohawk, Métis, Inuit, etc.
Of the above, at least 4 are Elders and 4 Knowledge Keepers who have been validated by their own communities. The Children’s Cottage Society will ensure that the membership reflects unique indigenous perspectives of First nations, Metis and Inuit.
