A Foundation for Truth and Reconciliation
Stitumstuxw tun shqwuluwun or self-determination—a foundation for truth and reconciliation
“Having the agency to change our lives and support our communities, based on our knowledge, experiences and understanding of our interconnectedness to each other and the land, is the only way we can build social and economic prosperity for our Nations. Kw’umut Lelum Foundation supports our self-determination by empowering communities to identify and resolve the challenges we face and then create our own pathways to a brighter future.”
~ John Elliot, Chief, Stz'uminus First Nation
Today we share another Coast Salish value grounded in Snuw’uy'ulh: stitumstuxw tun shqwuluwun or “self-determination”.
As I reflect on the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and hear murmurings of reconciliation fatigue, I think of my Gitxsan ancestors as well as the Coast Salish Elders who withstood the devastating consequences of colonization but never gave up or surrendered their right to be self-determining. I have heard their stories of endurance and felt the impact of intergenerational trauma and it is in this knowing, and feeling, that I recognize my responsibility to honour the lived experience of those that have come before me.
I invite all of you to consider your teachings related to self-determination and question how we collectively embrace this value in the spirit of tsetsuwatil—where we recognize there is work to be done together to build reciprocal, respectful, and truly impactful gifting relationships between donors and community.
With our work built on stitumstuxw tun shqwuluwun, we invite donors to consider unrestricted giving which allows Indigenous people full agency to effect change. It is a different way of giving, one that believes Indigenous people are in the best position to implement Indigenous-led solutions to community-identified challenges
This year on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation we are partnering with One Day’s Pay, a campaign with a simple goal: to encourage Canadians to empower Nations by giving unrestricted donations specifically to Indigenous-led organizations. The campaign helps ensure funds go where they will have the most impact—to those who truly understand where it will help.
We welcome donations of any amount to continue our journey to empower the Nations we work with to effect real and positive change in their communities. If you are unable to donate, please help support our work by sharing our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn social media posts.
Thank you for being part of our giving journey—we are so grateful for our tsetsuwatil* community.
* In Hul’qumi’num tsetsuwatil means “working together for a common benefit”.