Foundational Knowledge Newsletter | Truth & Reconciliation Education | Powwow Times

Education is the Foundation of Reconciliation

Every Monday, gain the knowledge you need to create meaningful change. Join educators, government officials, and leaders committed to truth, reconciliation, and action.

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You cannot change what you do not understand.

Reconciliation is not a moment. It is a movement. And movements require education, commitment, and action.

If you are an educator shaping young minds, a government official making policy decisions, an organizational leader influencing culture, or anyone in a position to create systemic change—you need foundational knowledge about Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Not surface-level awareness. Not performative gestures. Real understanding.

The kind of understanding that comes from listening to knowledge keepers, learning from elders, reading Indigenous authors, and confronting uncomfortable truths about Canada's past and present.

The Foundational Knowledge Newsletter is your weekly commitment to that understanding.

Every Monday morning, you will receive a 5-minute read that teaches you something essential about Indigenous history, culture, contemporary issues, and reconciliation. Bite-sized. Actionable. Authentic. And designed specifically for busy professionals who want to do better—and have the power to make real change.

This is not just another newsletter. This is your professional development. Your moral obligation. Your path to becoming part of the solution.

Why This Matters

The Gap in Indigenous Education is Costing Us All

Most Canadians—including educators, government officials, and organizational leaders—were never taught accurate, comprehensive Indigenous history. The education system failed us. And that failure has consequences.

Without foundational knowledge, we perpetuate harm:

Educators teach incomplete or inaccurate history, leaving students unprepared to understand contemporary Indigenous issues
Government officials make policy decisions without understanding the historical context or lived realities of Indigenous peoples
Organizational leaders implement diversity initiatives that miss the mark because they lack cultural competency
Community members hold unconscious biases rooted in misinformation and stereotypes

Reconciliation cannot happen without education. And education cannot happen without commitment.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action make it clear: education is foundational. If you are in a position of influence—teaching students, shaping policy, leading organizations, or making decisions that impact Indigenous communities—you have a responsibility to educate yourself.

What You'll Learn

52 Weeks of Foundational Knowledge. One Monday at a Time.

Indigenous History & Truth-Telling

Pre-contact Indigenous societies and governance systems
The impact of colonization and the Indian Act
Residential schools: history, legacy, and ongoing trauma
The Sixties Scoop and child welfare system
Treaties: what they mean, what was promised, what was broken
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)

Contemporary Indigenous Issues

Indigenous rights and sovereignty
Land back movements and land acknowledgments that matter
Water crises in Indigenous communities
Healthcare disparities and systemic racism in healthcare
Indigenous youth and education gaps
Economic development and self-determination

Culture, Language, and Identity

The diversity of Indigenous nations, languages, and cultures
Language revitalization efforts
Traditional knowledge and environmental stewardship
Powwow culture and ceremonial practices
Indigenous art, storytelling, and cultural expression
Two-Spirit identities and Indigenous perspectives on gender

Reconciliation in Action

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action
What reconciliation actually means (and what it doesn't)
How educators can teach Indigenous history accurately
How government officials can implement Indigenous-led policy
How organizations can move beyond performative allyship
How individuals can use their positions to create systemic change

Every newsletter is:

5 minutes or less – Designed for busy professionals
Actionable – Includes practical steps you can take in your role
Authentic – Rooted in Indigenous voices and perspectives
Cumulative – Builds your knowledge week by week, year by year

Who This Newsletter is For

This is Essential Reading for Anyone in a Position to Create Change

Educators & School Leaders

Teachers who want to teach accurate Indigenous history
Principals and administrators shaping curriculum
Post-secondary faculty integrating Indigenous content
Education policy-makers committed to systemic change

Government Officials & Policy-Makers

Municipal, provincial, and federal government employees
Policy analysts and advisors
Elected officials and their staff
Public servants working with Indigenous communities

Organizational Leaders & HR Professionals

CEOs, executives, and managers
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals
Human resources leaders implementing Indigenous hiring
Non-profit leaders serving Indigenous communities

Community Leaders & Change-Makers

Board members and community organizers
Faith leaders and spiritual communities
Healthcare professionals and social workers
Anyone committed to reconciliation and willing to learn

If you have influence—over students, policy, organizational culture, or community—this newsletter is for you.

How It Works

Your Weekly Commitment to Reconciliation

Subscribe (Free)

Receive Every Monday

Every Monday morning, a new issue arrives in your inbox. Fresh knowledge to start your week with intention.

Read (5 Minutes)

Each newsletter is designed to be read in 5 minutes or less. No overwhelming essays. Just focused, impactful learning.

Reflect & Act

Every newsletter includes reflection questions and actionable steps for your role.

Share & Discuss

Forward the newsletter to colleagues. Use it as a conversation starter. Reconciliation is collective.

Build Your Knowledge

After one year, you will have engaged with 52 foundational topics. That is transformative professional development.

Sample Newsletter: What to Expect

Subject Line: Foundational Knowledge Newsletter – Week 12: Understanding Treaties

This Week's Focus: Treaties Are Not Historical Documents—They Are Living Agreements

Most Canadians learn little to nothing about treaties in school. But if you live, work, or govern on treaty land (which most of Canada is), understanding treaties is essential.

What You'll Learn This Week:

What treaties are and why they were created
The numbered treaties and what was promised
The concept of "as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow"
Why many treaty promises remain unfulfilled
What treaty rights mean today
How educators, government officials, and leaders can honor treaty obligations

Featured Voice: Excerpt from The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King on treaty-making and broken promises.

Reflection Question: Do you know what treaty territory you live and work on? Have you ever read the treaty text?

Action Step for This Week:

Educators: Teach your students about the treaty that governs your region
Government Officials: Review how your policies align (or don't) with treaty obligations
Organizational Leaders: Include treaty acknowledgment in your land acknowledgment practices
Everyone: Read the full text of the treaty that applies to your area

Next Week: The Indian Act – How One Law Shaped (and Continues to Shape) Indigenous Life in Canada

Voices You'll Hear From

Authentic Indigenous Knowledge from Trusted Sources

The Foundational Knowledge Newsletter does not speak for Indigenous peoples. It amplifies Indigenous voices. Every week, you will learn from:

Indigenous Authors & Scholars

Thomas King, Lee Maracle, Tanya Talaga, Jesse Wente, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, and many more. Excerpts, insights, and recommended readings.

Knowledge Keepers & Elders

Traditional teachings passed down through generations. Cultural protocols and worldviews. Perspectives rooted in lived experience and ancestral wisdom.

Indigenous Leaders & Activists

Voices from the front lines of reconciliation, land back movements, and systemic change. Perspectives on policy, education, and justice.

Educators & Experts

Indigenous educators reshaping how history is taught. Researchers and advocates working in Indigenous communities.

Every newsletter centers Indigenous voices. You are not learning about Indigenous peoples—you are learning from them.

The Impact: How This Knowledge Creates Change

Education Without Action is Just Information

For Educators:

✓Teach accurate, comprehensive Indigenous history that goes beyond stereotypes

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