Holistic Wellness in the Spirit of Sankofa: Moving Forward, Guided by the Past
Written by Christina Sanakidis and Ellah Mangwiza, Managers – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
“Black History is not just for Black people — Black history is Canadian History” The Honourable Jean Augustine
Black people have been on the lands now known as Canada prior to the formation of this nation. From the sought-after explorer and linguist Mathieu da Costa, whose presence here was noted in 1608, to young Olivier le Jeune, an enslaved child from Madagascar who was brought here by a British convoy in 1628, Black presence on this land predates the 1867 formation of the dominion of Canada on Indigenous lands.
A List of Canadian Indigenous Authors, Poets, Filmmakers and More
Last year, the YMCA Young Leaders Council launched a mixed media club for staff called 'The Diversity Learning Project: More Than Just a Book Club'. They met monthly as a group to discuss various topics with the intention to learn and grow through dialogue. Their very first meeting focused on the topic, 'The Indigenous History of Turtle Island' and the resource list featuring Canadian Indigenous authors, poets, filmmakers, and more was compiled with care and commitment.
In light of Orange Shirt Day and the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, we want to share this resource list with you too. We hope that it will help you further your knowledge of Indigenous Peoples' histories, cultures, traditions, challenges, wins, and truths in Canada.