Reconciliation as Relationship: Reframing Settler Understanding of Reconciliation in Canada

Abstract

In 2015, Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission called upon Canadians to reconcile relationships between Settlers and Indigenous peoples in Canada. Education for reconciliation is one important element of this process. However, critical questions arise when education is undertaken by and for Settlers such as myself: Are our undertakings actually fostering reconciliation? According to whom? Drawing from reconciliation theory and decolonizing Indigenous methodologies, a reconciliation methodology is created to consider this question in the context of three reconciliation workshops for Settlers. Indigenous perspectives and pedagogies are prioritized. The emerging understandings of reconciliation as relationship and relationship as pedagogy reframe some prevailing Settler thinking about reconciliation, unmask latent assumptions linked to the colonial habits of mind and affirm the need for personal responsibility in the reconciliation relationship. The Indigenous norm of learning in-relation is found to be a powerful experience for Settlers participants offering valuable insights for reconciliation education in Canada.

Author Keywords: decolonizing, education, Indigenous, relationship, Settler, Truth and Reconciliation

    Item Description
    Type
    Contributors
    Creator (cre): Telford, Sherry
    Thesis advisor (ths): Pendleton-Jiménez, Karleen
    Degree committee member (dgc): Young, Kelly
    Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University
    Date Issued
    2018
    Date (Unspecified)
    2018
    Place Published
    Peterborough, ON
    Language
    Extent
    278 pages
    Rights
    Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.
    Subject (Topical)
    Local Identifier
    TC-OPET-10547
    Publisher
    Trent University
    Degree
    Master of Education (M.Ed.): Educational Studies