TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
The Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games Host Society is committed to following in the path of Truth and Reconciliation and has chosen Calls to Action #87, #91 and Beyond 94 to follow on our path to hosting the Games.
- CTA #87 – We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with the Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant to organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes’ history.
- CTA #91 – We call upon the officials and host communities of international sporting events such as the Olympics, Pan Am, and Commonwealth Games to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events.
- Beyond 94 – Infusing culture wherever we can respectfully.
TRC PIN Series
As part of the Pin Program, the Host Society has developed a
Truth and Reconciliation pin series with the guidance of the Culture Committee and local knowledge keepers. These limited-edition pins will only be available at events and activities honouring Truth and Reconciliation within the region.
TRC PIN
One of the three pins in the series, the Truth and Reconciliation pin, was developed in 2020.
The pin showcases the symbols for the Seven Sacred Teachings, which we have adopted as our guiding principles, and moccasins with our calls to action we are highlighting on the vamps. These moccasins represent walking in a path forward to reconciliation and fully supporting and respecting calls 87 and 91.
ORANGE SHIRT PIN
September 30 is recognized as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and shares awareness of the tragic legacy of Canada’s residential schools.
The Orange Shirt symbolizes the story of Phyllis Webstad, Northern Secwepemc from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, whose grandmother bought her a new orange shirt when she was six years old. That shirt was taken from Phyllis when she arrived at the residential school never to be seen again. Wearing an orange shirt is just one way to honour and remember the loss of the First Nation, Inuit and Métis children, many of whom were forcefully removed from their families and placed in these schools, to never return home.
The Orange Shirt Pin was created to support awareness and share our continued commitment to listen to, learn from and share the truth as we honour the survivors of residential schools, their families and their communities. Every Child Matters.
RED DRESS PIN
The Red Dress Pin signifies the AWG 2023 Host Society’s commitment to bringing awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S) and Murdered, Missing and Exploited Indigenous Peoples (MMEIP).
MMIWG2S recognizes the violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people is a systemic and national crisis requiring urgent, informed and collaborative action.
MMEIP recognizes the importance of acknowledging the violence committed against Indigenous Peoples, including boys, men and gender-diverse persons. They too are suffering, in danger and their voices need to be included and heard.
With this awareness in mind, the pin features a Red Jingle Dress, Regalia worn during the Jingle Dance to help heal. The sound of jingles through the jingle dance is believed to spread healing, whether dancing for one person or a whole nation. It is our hope that there will be healing and this epidemic one day comes to an end.
learn more
Learn more about Truth and Reconciliations efforts in Canada, including all 94 Call to Actions.