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The Role of Allies in Canada’s Reconciliation: A Few Thoughts
Canada’s reconciliation process has been one of fear, excitement, missteps, stumbles and victories. Throughout this journey to reconciliation, we as a country have been feeling our way down a largely unknown path that changes daily. As Indigenous peoples, we are fairly sure of our role in this process. But what about non-Indigenous Canadians? Erin Hodson, Indigenous Curriculum Specialist at Wilfrid Laurier University, has some thoughts to share …
Lecture Video
Additional Resources
Note from the instructor:
If you are going to be purchasing any of the books below, consider purchasing from Indigenous-owned bookstores or publishing houses if possible. Some great locations to consider as you begin your search:
- Indigenous Men and Masculinity by Kim Anderson
- A recognition of being: Reconstructing Native womanhood by Kim Anderson
- Separate beds: A history of Indian hospitals in Canada, 1920s-1980s by Maureen K. Lux
- Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teaching of plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- Eatewnonha: Native roots of modern democracy by Georges Sioui
- Forever Loved: Exposing the hidden crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada by D. Memee Lavell-Harverd and Jennifer Brant
- The Creator’s Game: Lacrosse, Identity, and Indigenous Nationhood by Allen Downey
- All our relations: Finding the path forward by Tanya Talaga
- Seven fallen feathers – Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in the Northern City by Tanya Talaga
- The Inconvenient Indian: A curious account of Native people in North America by Thomas King
- Missing and murdered Indigenous people in “Canada”: An inclusionary approach to understanding violence against the original people of Turtle Island by Jen MtPleasant
- When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson
- When I was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton
- Stolen Words by Melanie Florence
- Not my girl by Christy Jordan-Fenton
- I am not a number by Jenny Kay Dupuis
- The orange shirt story: The true story of Orange Shirt Day by Phyllis Webstad
- A stranger at home by Christy Jordan-Fenton
- Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton
- Indigenous Allyship: An Overview from Wilfrid Laurier University's Office of Indigenous Initiatives
- Indigenous Ally Toolkit from the Segal Centre
About the Instructor 
Erin Hodson is the Indigenous Curriculum Specialist at Laurier. Hodson is of Kanienʼkehá꞉ka descent and received her MEd with a focus on the Social and Cultural Context of Education from Brock University in 2017. For almost 10 years, Hodson worked for the Tecumseh Centre for Aboriginal Research and Education at Brock University where she created and taught courses focusing on Canadian history through the understanding of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. Hodson has been involved in multiple research projects investigating the state of Indigenous education in Canada.
During her research, Hodson witnessed firsthand the benefits of engaging with Indigenous culture for both her own people’s sense of self within mainstream education and for benefit of non-Indigenous people. Hodson is an outspoken advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous content throughout all levels of education. Since 2017, Hodson has worked with faculty, staff, students and community in Kitchener, Waterloo and surrounding areas to create authentic space for Indigenous ways of knowing and being into their personal and professional lives.
About Lifelong Learning at Home
Lifelong Learning at Home is a free weekly series featuring pre-recorded lectures from some well-known Laurier faculty and community experts. Visit the Lifelong Learning at Home section to explore other lectures and to find out more about this limited series offered by the Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning.
Lifelong Learning at Home was created to connect people through lifelong learning during this time of unprecedented challenges. Many Laurier students are experiencing significant financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are in a position to do so, you can help us support our students by donating to Laurier's COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which provides emergency financial support, health and wellness support and teaching and learning support during this challenging time.