I met Greta Reid almost a year ago and feel immense gratitude for this gift.
Greta participated in the first cohort of the disruptive leadership program that KCR and the United Way of British Columbia developed to offer leadership training with a diversity, equity and inclusion lens.
It has been an honour to learn from her, to feel her power, her grace and her humanity. It is a sheer joy to call her friend.
As we approach Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, I reached out to Greta to have her share thoughts and reflections of this day and of the unique experiences she offers the community on our journey of building new understanding and relationship.
Greta grew up in NWT, Yukon, Ontario and B.C. and has heard stories and teachings and watched and participated in many traditional ceremonies from many First Nations, Inuit and M茅tis Elders, Medicine People and Knowledge Keepers.
Greta鈥檚 responses to my questions, as always, are mindful, wise and heartfelt. I think it is best to let her speak for herself:
鈥淎s a Suqnaquinx (Suk anok can) Syilx Okanagan descendant, I have the honour to live on my traditional lands, as an Indigenous artist it is my opportunity to share my experience creatively and grow my skills, either with teachings or through practice.
鈥淚 have great pleasure to also now create space and places as a disruptive leader. For me this means I stand up 鈥� challenging the current ways system operates, raise my voice and share my visions, even if that impact is small right now.
鈥淚t also means having conversations, and inviting people to think about their own experiences, and ones that are completely different from their own. The barriers and responsibilities that comes from all sides.
鈥淣ational Day for Truth and Reconciliation is supposed to be a day where people pause, learn, reflect, create space, witness and participate in truth. It鈥檚 also a time to evolve one鈥檚 personal understanding of what reconciliation truly is, not only on a individual鈥檚 impact, but all the way through into a socio-economic, governmental and societal impact.
鈥淭his day is beyond wearing orange 鈥� if you are a non-Indigenous person 鈥� wearing orange demonstrates your willingness to identify as an ally, showing up at events means you value the opportunity Indigenous people are offering for you to learn and you want to deepen your knowledge in a meaningful way. As you watching traditional practices, you are holding space, for us to be here today and demonstrate our culture.
鈥淪ee us as many Nations, living, connecting and practicing our traditions.
鈥淧eople should spend this day in a way that aligns with their personal capacity to learn and connect to what this day means to Indigenous people. It鈥檚 more then just one day a year. It鈥檚 a life-long journey to decolonize your own life, and allow for Indigenization to be elevate by Indigenous peoples (First Nation, Inuit and M茅tis) within communities and organizations.
鈥淭he journey is listen, learn, grow 鈥� and do more and do better. Read Indigenous published books, follow Indigenous content creators, listen to their content, their stories and elevate their voices by sharing. Support recognized Indigenous companies, and contribute and donate to Indigenous lead organizations.
鈥淚f I was to draw a circle around the 69,000 square-kilometres that makes up the Syilx Okanagan Territory, many of my teachings comes from outside of my own traditional territory. However, they are similar ways of living and doing. I am actively connecting to my lands, language and way of practicing.
鈥淧icking medicine in my traditional territory is one way I let my leaders, Elders and ancestors know I am here. Doing this on National Day for Truth & Reconciliation is a way for me to step back from the speed the world is spinning at, pause and connect.
鈥淢y up coming Podcast will be released in 2024 and is called New Ground鈥hich sprinkles humour into the journey to self-discovery, what it looks like to kick the door open and explore vulnerability. How I moved from a challenging place into my greatest personal growth-spirit.
鈥淚 will share my journey as an Indigenous artist, disruptive leader and who I am as an evolving content creator. The podcast is designed to share creative visualizations, beautiful messaging, what lights me up, and fills my heart. It鈥檚 truly about gaining new ground and leaning into hard spaces.
鈥淭his Saturday there are many ways to expand your understanding of your personal role in Truth and Reconciliation. There are public events at the Sncewips Heritage Museum and Ki-Low-Na Friendship Centre that are well worth taking part in and showing your allyship in your orange shirt. If you are interested in deepening your learning and how to be a disruptive leader, contact dorothee@kcr.ca or 250-763-8008, ext.254. The second iteration of the program starts in November.鈥�
