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The Connect Event offers participants a better understanding of the challenges faced by Indigenous people. It provides an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to experience a learning journey towards well-being and reconciliation by breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma through shared dialogue and activities.

“The courage and strength of Indigenous people who educate through love and attitudes of acceptance, even after trauma, is inspiring and models the way we must all be going forward.”

- 2018 Connect Event Participant

The ninth annual Connect Event took place on October 18th and 19th and was hosted by United Way of Calgary and Area’s Natoo’si Indigenous Healing and Well-Being Initiative, together with Alberta Health Services and the Calgary Foundation.

The theme of the event was “Truth and Reconciliation.”

This year, two keynote speakers, Cowboy Smithx and Dr. Dustin Louie, shared information and their lived experiences on acknowledging the truth of Canada’s past, and building towards reconciliation.

Beth Gignac, COO of United Way of Calgary and Area, welcomed guests on the first day of the event. She was followed by Charlotte Yellowhorn-McLeod, Indigenous cultural coordinator at Aspen Family Services, who talked about the roles of the Elders, and the importance of them being at the event. Charlotte encouraged participants to introduce themselves to the Elders because they are the knowledge keepers and to the youth, because they are our future.

The first day included six breakout sessions, with the first four taking place in the early afternoon. The four topics discussed during the breakout sessions were: Grief and Loss (facilitated by First Nation pow-wow master of ceremonies Hal Eagletail), Poverty (facilitated by Lee Stevens, a community engagement specialist), Addictions (facilitated by Kerry Gladue, an addictions counsellor), and Cultural Disconnect (facilitated by Cowboy Smithx, an award-winning filmmaker).

After a short break, participants were divided into two groups – one group took part in the Blanket Exercise, while the other participated in sharing circles to reflect on the previous sessions they had attended. The Blanket Exercise is an interactive learning experience that explores the nation-to-nation relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada and how this relationship was damaged over the years. The exercise was followed by a debrief session in the form of a talking circle. One participant noted the Blanket Exercise was, “very powerful in helping me understand the trauma and intergenerational impact of the historical events that took place over the last few centuries.”

2018 EVENT OVERVIEW

9TH ANNUAL

CONNECT EVENT2018 SUMMARY

Dr. Dustin Louie presenting “Reconciliation”

Cowboy Smithx acknowledging “Truth”

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A total of 170 participants, including 15 youth, took part in the 2018 Connect Event. Attendees included teachers, school administrators, service-providing agencies, government representatives, and members of the community. Attendance was up by 47 participants (a 38% increase) from the year before. The organizing committee believes that implementing the registration cost contributed to the higher attendance rate.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Grief and Loss session with Hal Eagletail Russ Baker demonstrating the Step dance

The first day began with a presentation on truth by keynote speaker Cowboy Smithx, an award-winning filmmaker and founder and curator of the international Indigenous speaker series REDx Talks. Smithx, who also serves as the artistic director of the Iiniistsi Treaty Arts Society, outlined how uncomfortable conversations about Canada’s past and future present an opportunity and a call to action for future generations. He spoke about the importance of embracing this opportunity, as a society, to create a collective identity that is about understanding and respect.

The second day included a keynote presentation on reconciliation by Indigenous scholar Dr. Dustin Louie, professor at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Dr. Louie discussed why reconciliation plays such an important role in today’s society, the responsibilities Indigenous people have in this process, and the dangers of moving to the stages of reconciliation if society still hasn’t agreed upon what needs to be reconciled. He explained the importance of building mutually respectful relationships, how to turn ideas into action, and that reconciliation is not an end goal, but rather a process.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS

The final session of the day, “Honouring our Youth,” included a music video made by an Indigenous youth, and discussions with other youth regarding what they want to be in the future, their desire to have adults listen to them, and their need for the adults in their lives to consider how their own lack of wellness impacts the youth.

On the second day, following the opening prayers and Dr. Dustin Louie’s keynote presentation on reconciliation, participants had the opportunity to hear from local youth speakers during a one-hour panel session. The four-person youth panel included some of Calgary and area’s most influential and up-and-coming Indigenous youth: Kaiya and Aiyana Leonard La Couvee, two sisters who created the Footprints Project, an art and social awareness initiative inspired by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; Payne Many Guns, the 17-year-old owner and founder of the Niitsitapi Co. clothing brand; and Damase Ellis, a successful Calgary born singer-songwriter. The four speakers discussed how truth and reconciliation has advanced in Canada, and the challenges they face as Indigenous youth living in Calgary and area.

Both days of the event included a step dance activity facilitated by Russ Baker. Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback this activity received last year, the committee invited Russ to lead the dancing again this year.

Six Elders attended the event throughout the two days, offering mental health support to participants and leading the opening prayer and smudge on both days. Six youth helpers were identified as ‘Elders in the making’ to look after and learn from the Elders during the event.

“I am a settler; my role is to listen, be open-hearted and open-minded to the truth and history of Indigenous nations. I came to be an ally and hope to be an accomplice moving forward.”

- 2018 Connect Event Participant

Cultural Disconnect session with Cowboy Smithx

3Sharing Circle reflecting on previous sessions

To help the organizing committee determine the effectiveness of various aspects of the event, participants were asked to evaluate their experience by completing a survey. The evaluation requested feedback on the structure, content, and impact of the event to achieve a greater understanding of participant satisfaction. A total of 88 participants completed the evaluation, for an overall response rate of 52 per cent. To encourage attendees to participate in the survey, those who filled it out were given an extra ticket for the door prizes.

The evaluation covered the following topics: • knowledge development and learning;• topic relevance and impact;• recommendations.

Results of this survey indicated:• 92% of participants reported a better understanding of truth and history.• 82% of participants reported a better understanding of the cultural protocols

that were incorporated at this event.• 95% of participants felt the Connect Event provided a culturally safe and

inclusive space.• 89% of participants reported the event left them with a sense of hope and

optimism for the future.

Both Cowboy Smithx and Dr. Dustin Louie’s presentations received an overwhelming response from event attendees, who requested that both speakers return next year. Cowboy Smithx’s breakout session on cultural disconnect was especially powerful. Participants noted how the one-hour session probed them to examine how they see themselves in the world today, and how they may be excluded on the basis of social, racial, or economic factors. Dr. Louie’s presentation was also a big hit with the crowd, with multiple attendees sharing that his take on decolonization helped them understand the topic from a different point of view. One participant added, “…the message and the depth of the situation was so concisely portrayed that it connect[ed] well with my desire to understand.”

The Blanket Exercise, which took place on the first day, powerfully impacted attendees, many of whom noted that although the experience was painful for them, they appreciated having the opportunity to learn about the history of residential schools and the oppression of Indigenous cultures. One participant said the exercise, “provided me with more resolve to sit with the truth, no matter how painful and uncomfortable.”

This year’s inclusion of youth in the event was very well received. Both the Honouring our Youth session and the Youth Panel received standing ovations, with multiple attendees asking that the youth play an even bigger role in next year’s event.

Many participants left parting comments, including:

EVENT FEEDBACK

“The message I took home and to heart after the event was that being silent and not doing anything to support our Indigenous [people] is very hurtful. I will work towards being more of an active voice and ally for my Indigenous community members.”

“I’ve heard great things about this event and was excited to attend this year and what I heard was very true. I hope to be back next year.”

Elders Kelly Good Eagle and Casey Eagle Speaker

Youth Panel with Aiyana and Kaiya Leonard La Couvee, Payne Many Guns, and Damase Ellis

Tim Fox presenting the Blanket Exercise

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“This event was so valuable for me as both a person and a professional. It provided me with a language to articulate truth and reconciliation. Thank you.”

- 2018 Connect Event Participant

Your investment in the Connect Event supports multi-sector collaboration to advance reconciliation in our community. It is a key component of United Way’s Indigenous Strategy, which builds on the work of Natoo’si, our healing and well-being initiative.

The Connect Event committee works year-round to ensure event participants are provided with tools to connect with peers, build allies, and explore learning activities. Speakers are carefully chosen for this event to include local role models with success stories of overcoming struggle or displaying great leadership.

The Connect Event committee represents diverse groups and agencies around our city. Our list of partners for this event has grown immensely over the years, expanding from a handful of organizations to 15. Aligning this event within United Way’s overall Indigenous Strategy has helped build relationships, bolstering involvement within the community. This year, members from the following groups contributed to developing the event:

• Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary• Alberta Health Services• Aspen Family & Community Network Society• Boys and Girls Club of Calgary• Calgary Board of Education• Calgary Foundation• Calgary Police Service• Canada Bridges• Canadian Mental Health Association• Fluor• Native Counselling Services of Alberta• The City of Calgary (Indigenous Liaison Youth Services)• Tsuut’ina Police Service• Vibrant Communities Calgary• YMCA

Your generous gift provided the opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together at the 2018 Connect Event and better understand the challenges faced by Indigenous people. Through shared dialogue and activities at this two-day event, participants joined us in a learning journey towards well-being and reconciliation.

This year, as in previous years, we received many messages of gratitude and support from participants who value the positive impact this event has not only on their lives, but also the community in which they live:

THE IMPACT OF YOUR DONATION

THANK YOU

Connect Event Committee

Next year will mark the 10th annual Connect Event, and we will have some big plans to celebrate. We have come a long way in ten years, and are looking forward to acknowledging this decade-long commitment to building understanding and stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Calgary and area. Your investments in the Connect Event continue to make an important contribution to the reconciliation movement in Calgary and the surrounding area. Thank you for your commitment to our Indigenous work through Natoo’si and the emerging Indigenous Strategy. We look forward to updating you on the status of this work early in the new year.