𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is a conversation that requires that we listen, learn and willing to look at things we may not have understood before.

In this episode of the CUSW Spotlight Podcast, 𝗗𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗺𝗮𝗻 welcomes back 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝘆𝗸 for a deeply personal conversation about Truth and Reconciliation.

Valerie is the Executive Director of Indigenous Skills, Employment, Apprenticeship, and Development 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗱.𝗰𝗮/, a national Indigenous not-for-profit organization that advocates for and supports Indigenous youth and communities in accessing education, training and employment in the skilled trades.

𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 ’𝟲𝟬𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽, 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮.

Dan and Val talk about what truth means, why listening and education are so important, and why reconciliation cannot happen without first acknowledging the truth.

They share personal experiences and discuss the impact of denial, the importance of believing people when they have the courage to tell their stories, and the responsibility each of us has to learn and reflect.

The conversation also looks at the experiences of Indigenous people in Canada, the residential schools and the ’60s Scoop, and how a lack of understanding can continue to shape attitudes and behaviours from one generation to the next.

This is an emotional and thought-provoking conversation about truth, courage, understanding and finding ways to move forward together.

And as Val reminds us at the end of the episode: “𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱.”

Want to connect with Val and learn more about ISEAD? Feel free to reach out to her directly at 𝘃𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝘆𝗸@𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗱.𝗰𝗮

Want to reach out to Dan? Email him directly at 𝗱𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗺𝗮𝗻@𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮 Don’t forget to visit www.cusw.ca to explore more opportunities and resources.

If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email Dan at [email protected].

🔗 Listen or watch using the links below.

🎧 Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460173/episodes/19799322-believe-in-people-the-truth-before-reconciliation-with-valerie-vanderwyk-episode-34.mp3?download=true

📺 YouTube: https://youtu.be/vBo7XV43qM8

🎵 Video on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TkxfilPN2TTqiQ18pPjYq?si=QOeuLnXkQTqBvK0Ag371PA

🌐 Follow the Podcast: https://www.cuswpodcast.ca/

If you have a story to share, want to suggest a guest, or have a topic you'd like to hear on the CUSW Spotlight Podcast, feel free to reach out to us at 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁@𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮 We’d love to hear from you!
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🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 and 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 as you watch the full episodes on our official YouTube channel.
🎵 Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.

𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗪 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁!

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