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Enough for All News

June 3, 2022

Celebrating the cultural diversity of Indigenous Peoples

In June, we commemorate National Indigenous History Month. During this month, we take time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across Canada. We also celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 and Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary from June 20-25.
 
VCC is privileged to have the opportunity to learn from Elders and members of the Enough for All (E4A) Indigenous Advisory Committee throughout the year, and to share opportunities for learning with E4A Champions. Throughout June we’ll be continuing these conversations and sharing some new resources, starting with the latest episode of the Let’s Talk Poverty podcast: Systemic Change – Indigenous People and the Legal System. VCC’s Jaclyn Silbernagel sat down with lawyer Sarah Sinclair, who leads the Indigenous justice program Sahwoo mohkaak tsi ma taas (Blackfoot for “Before Being Judged”) at Calgary Legal Guidance. They explore creating equal access to justice for Indigenous people, how Indigenous Law brings healing, and the need for systemic change in the legal system.
 
We invite you to learn more about the rich heritage and history of Indigenous peoples. We have assembled some resources below, and further down in the events section, to help you get started.
Resources
  • Learn more about Goal 3 of the Enough for All Strategy and how we’re working to ensure Indigenous People are co-creators of Calgary’s future without poverty.
  • Blackfoot Digital Library brings home the field notes, photographs, and recordings that have been spread all over the world.
  • IndigiTRAILS is a free app that uses GPS or location services to allow audiences to take part in digital art galleries and other future activities within Calgary.
  • Artists Jessica McMann and Elijah Wells of Wild Mint Arts discuss how art can bring joy and healing, and their hope to inspire and empower Indigenous people of all ages, abilities and genders in the latest episode of the Storytelling Podcast: Indigenous Stories.
  • Empowering the Spirit offers resources for teachers to increase awareness, understanding and application of Indigenous peoples’ histories, perspectives and ways of knowing.
  • White Goose Flying is the namesake of a 2016 report, which looked at the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action from the previous year and determined which can be implemented at a municipal level. This article details progress and work still to do.

Taking action to end poverty in our city


VCC is pleased to announce that Rise Calgary has signed on as an Enough for All Champion! Their programs stabilize peoples’ immediate needs, then empowers Calgarians to reach their own goals, all while trying to shift perspectives on poverty and drive systemic change.

Key Topics


Check out this LiveWire article, where VCC weighed in on food insecurity and inflation and how volunteer-run food pantries are responding in Calgary.
 
City council voted to increase taxi fares. Even though increases can have big impacts for people in the disability community, seniors and those who don’t have access to a credit card, ensuring taxi drivers make a wage over the poverty line is important too, says VCC's Meaghon Reid in a recent Calgary Herald article.
 
In inflation-adjusted terms, wages in April were down more than 3% from the same period a year ago even though there is a labour shortage. This article delves into why.
 
Canada’s government has announced that it will allow B.C. to try a three-year experiment in decriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs, hoping it will help stop overdose deaths by easing a fear of arrest by those who need help.
 
Women’s wages aren’t keeping up with inflation, according to A Bumpy Ride: Tracking women’s economic recovery amid the pandemic study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
 
The government plans to retable the Canada Disability Benefit by the end of June. Michelle Hewitt, the co-chair of Disability with Poverty explains what supports are currently available and why this benefit is needed in the Decibel podcast.
 
After raising issues about access to the National accessArts Centre, The City of Calgary has now invited advocacy groups to provide input for heritage designations and leasing city-owned buildings. Learn more about the issue.
 
The Office of the Federal Housing Advocate opened an online submission process for people to share their experiences with systemic housing and homelessness issues in Canada. Organizations can also use the online submission platform to submit relevant information. 
 
From the Frontlines: An urgent agenda for decent work provides an overview of the key issues facing workers today and lays out the employment and labour law changes needed to ensure decent work for all.

In the Community


This week is National AccessAbility Week celebrating valuable contributions and leadership of Canadians with disabilities, highlighting the work of individuals, organizations and communities who are removing barriers and reflecting on our ongoing efforts to become a better, more accessible, more disability inclusive Canada.
 
This weekend, get free admission to Alberta’s Historic Sites.
 
The Women’s Centre is offering free summer leadership programs for girls going into grades 5-9. Email era@womencentrecalgary.org for more information.
 
A new Indigenous-themed playground has opened up in northeast Calgary.
 
Calgary Transit is offering cheap fares in August and September to incentivize ridership.

Events


June 1-7 is Empathy Week in Calgary, a seven-day festival of events which promote empathy, human connection, and the recognition of our shared humanity.
 
June 4 at 12:00 p.m. – National Indigenous History Month opening ceremonies and mini powwow at Central Memorial Park.
 
June 4 – Calgary Public Library National Indigenous Heritage month kick off, featuring Clarence Wolfleg and musician Wendy Walker. Check out their resources and event listing.
 
June 5 from 1-2:30 p.m. – Walking Land Acknowledgement at Fort Calgary is a guided tour with an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper along the East Village River Walk.
 
June 8 – Join the Indigenous Social Work Circle and Lodge at the University of Calgary for a lunch and learn in the Indigenous Ways of Knowing series.
 
June 8-9 – The Future of Good Women’s Economic Resilience Summit will convene changemakers and speakers working to advance gender equity and economic empowerment.
 
June 15 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – We’re Together Ending Poverty and the Aboriginal Friendship Centre are hosting a sharing circle exploring obstacles and opportunities to achieving a basic income and smudge box kit-making workshop at CommunityWise.
 
June 19 from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. – Aboriginal Awareness Week Launch: Variety Show at the Studio Bell National Music Centre.
 
June 20 from 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Celebrate language and culture during the Aboriginal Awareness Week Opening Ceremonies at Calgary Stampede Elbow River Camp or streamed online.
 
June 21 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. – Walk for Reconciliation 2022 is an opportunity to reflect on the difficult history and atrocities of residential schools in Canada, the legacies of survivors, and how we can all move forward together to overcome adversity.
 
June 21– Mînî Thnî Indigenous People’s Day Traditional Powwow will have a pipe ceremony and registration at 9:00 a.m. and grand entry at 10:00 a.m.
 
June 25 – National Indigenous Family Day and Powwow at the Calgary Stampede Grounds.

In the News


Business reporter Pete Evans joins the Front Burner Podcast to sort through the different reasons prices keep rising and why the current inflation in Canada doesn’t mean the federal COVID-19 stimulus was a mistake.
 
Senators call for exoneration of 12 Indigenous women who endured systemic inequality in Canada’s criminal justice system.
 
Indigenous-led sober outreach team is providing cultural healing and supports to help people using substances.
 
The New Brunswick government says it will distribute a one-time payment to those living on low incomes to help them deal with soaring gasoline and grocery bills.
 
Transit ridership across the country is still noticeably down compared to pre-pandemic levels, even as more people return to the office and gas prices hit record-setting highs. Some experts say transit operators should plan ahead for demand to increase.
Enough for All is Calgary’s community-driven poverty reduction strategy. Its mission is to create opportunities to align and leverage the work of hundreds of organizations and thousands of Calgarians to reduce poverty in our city. Enough for all is funded through the generous support of:
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