Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility
As an organization, we have been actively working to educate ourselves at the staff and advisory panel level on ways that we can build a more inclusive, barrier-free organization for the local community and staff that supports and highlights Equity Deserving groups. In addition to City of Brampton seminars and training, we have been working with Artist, Anti-oppression, Liberation & Meaningful Inclusion consultant Rania El Mugammar in support of these efforts since 2022.
Some of the training and capacity building we have engaged in have included:
- Anti Oppression 101 & 102 Training with Rania (Staff and Panel members)
- Anti Oppression for Artists & Cultural Producers (Public workshop)
- Indigenous Cultural Competency training (Staff) with Toronto Hostels Training Centre
- Worker Health and Safety Awareness with the City of Brampton
- Accessibility for Life Training as required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) with the City of Brampton
In conjunction with this learning and unlearning, BAO has endeavoured to specifically support and showcase local Equity Deserving Groups through programming including the “Black Artists Live Here” exhibition, multiple 2SLGBTQ+ Artist Residencies, our Accessibility Ramp Program and ongoing free workshops and training including “Accessibility for Arts Events”, “Land Acknowledgements with Elder Catherine Tammaro” and virtual exhibition tours. We are thankful to have partnered with many organizations in this work including the Indigenous Curatorial Collective, BIPOC TV & Film, Tangled Art + Disability, Stop Gap Foundation, Moyo Community Health Services and the City of Brampton’s Accessibility and Equity and Inclusion offices.
All of the selection panels for BAO opportunities involve local community members and prioritize applicants who self-identify as belonging to one (or more) of the following groups or intersecting marginalized identities: Indigenous, Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Newcomers and Persons Living with Mental Illness, 2SLGBTQIAP. We strongly encourage applications from these communities and work to accommodate folks with a disability during our processes and at events.
Looking ahead, we have recently updated our Land Acknowledgement and drafted our first community guidelines document which will grow and evolve with public feedback while we continue to update processes, policies and systems while working in sustainable and meaningful ways. This fall, we will also be doing a full accessibility audit of our office and workshop space to identify areas for improvement. We will share public updates as we implement the next steps in this ongoing, evolving work as we transition to independence, including our first Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access policy.
Support Indigenous Communities
Suggested Ways to Support Indigenous Communities and Further Your Own Learning
- Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commision’s Final report and accompanying 94 Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Learn more about Indigenous arts, culture, artists and creatives. Read Indigenous literature, look at art by Indigenous artists, watch movies by Indigenous filmmakers and more.
- Visit local public events presented by Indigenous organizations and/or Friendship Centres
- Support and volunteer with Indigenous non-profits or charitable organizations
- Support Indigenous businesses and creative entrepreneurs by purchasing and recommending their work and products, by attending their events, and by following their social media and newsletters.
- Seek out primary Indigenous sources on Treaties, Wampums and oral histories of the territories you live and work on
- Locate yourself in your family history and reflect on where your knowledge and ideas come from by addressing the experiences and perspectives in your life. How does this inform your relationship to colonial defaults and integrating Indigenous perspectives, knowledge and histories into your life?
- Language matters. Learn how to pronounce the names of the Nations and territories — this takes practice.
- Support economic recovery and reconciliation – support Indigenous owned businesses and hire Indigenous talent
Resources Recommended by Kendal Netmaker, Sweetgrass First Nation Speaker and Entrepreneur
Books
- Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal Life
- Call Me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the NHL’s First Treaty
- Iskocēs Tipiskak: A Spark in the Dark
- 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
- Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips & Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality
Documentaries/Films
Listen to the Survivors
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/NationalCentreforTruthandReconciliation/featured
Treaty Maps
Mississaugas of the Credit Treaty Lands and Territory
http://www.mncfn.ca/about-mncfn/treaty-lands-and-territory/
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Reports
https://nctr.ca/records/reports/
Residential School Timeline
https://nctr.ca/exhibits/residential-school-timeline/
Residential School History
https://nctr.ca/education/teaching-resources/residential-school-history/
Map of Locations of Residential Schools across Canada
https://nctr.ca/records/view-your-records/archival-map/
Regional Listing of Locations of Residential Schools across Canada
https://nctr.ca/memorial/national-student-memorial/search-by-school/
Essential Reading for Reconciliation – Books by Indigenous Authors
Additional Community Resources
Kids Help Phone: Provides a texting option for Indigenous youth and adults to connect with a First Nations, Metis, or Inuit crisis responder. Youth text 68 68 68 and adults text 741 741 with the word “First Nations” or “Metis” or “Inuit” to be connected to a crisis responder from their nation if one is available (Indigenous crisis responders are not guaranteed but will be prioritized).
Sept. 30 Crisis Hotline: LifeWorks (EFAP) has also opened up a Crisis Support Line on Sept. 30 for anyone in the community in need of emotional support. The 24/7 crisis hotline is available to everyone, client or not who needs assistance on Sept. 30 at 1-844-751-2133.
Wellness Together Canada (https://wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA): Free mental health support that is available 24/7.
Hope to Wellness: Immediate crisis support for Indigenous Peoples available at 1-855-242-3310.
Hope for Wellness Help Line: Free counselling available 24/7 to all Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit peoples across Canada. Online chat or phone line available: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
Residential School Survivors Society: www.irsss.ca, reception@irsss.ca, or 1-800-721-0066
Residential School Survivors and Family: 1-866-925-4419 (24-hour crisis line)
KUU-US Crisis Line Society: www.kuu-uscrisisline.com; 1-800-588-8717 (Toll-free), 250-723-4050 (Adult Line)
Métis Crisis Line: 1-833-MÉTISBC (1-833-638-4722)