The NWTRPA is committed to reconciliation, decolonization and racial equity. This commitment has shaped many of our initiatives and is reflected in both our 2018-2-21 and 2023-2027 strategic plans.

 

The following timeline highlights some steps in our ongoing journey. 

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2016

The NWTRPA formally began our reconciliation and decolonization journey. The Board of Directors formed a working group to explore how the organization could meaningfully respond to the 94 calls to action listed in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (TRC) report. At our 2016 Annual General Meeting, the NWTRPA membership voted to endorse the TRC Calls to Action and adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a framework for future activities.

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2017

The Board and staff participated in training facilitated by Dene Nahjo, a Sǫ̀mba K’è/Yellowknife based Indigenous leadership organization, resulting in a shared understanding and definition of decolonization: Decolonization is about transformation and the dismantling of an unjust system. It is about revealing and owning the harms of the past, raising awareness about inequities of the present, but most importantly, about remaking social and political systems in order to truly respect the rights and well-being of Indigenous peoples.

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Decolonization was also the theme of the 2017 NWTRPA and Youth Conference, held in Inuuvik/Inuvik. The conference included a keynote presentation from Dr. Crystal Gail Fraser about recreation at residential schools in the Inuvik region.

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2018

The NWTRPA completed a Strategic Plan (2018-2021) which included a primary goal to work with intention to advance decolonization and reconciliation through their work, workplaces, and relationships. The organization’s strategic plan also included developing a program review process to guide and determine if NWTRPA program content, services, and delivery were in line with our commitment to decolonization and reconciliation. In partnership with Dr. Crystal Gail Fraser, a Gwichyà Gwich’in historian at the University of Alberta, the NWTRPA initiated a research project called “How I Survived”: Recreation at Northern Residential Schools. The purpose of the project is to gather stories from survivors in order to document and understand how recreation was a part of the residential school, hostel, and day school experience, as well as the significance of recreation for students. This project is guided by an advisory committee of survivors and intergenerational survivors.

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2019

The NWTRPA advocated the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) to include TRC and UNDRIP into their strategic outlook.

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2020

Released a statement on racism in recreation and parks.

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2021

The NWTRPA reviewed its awards program with the support of Bushkids (an on-the-Land learning initiative based in Yellowknife) and a committee composed of staff, board, and past award recipients.  The committee provided recommendations on the awards program and on the review process. The NWTRPA then worked to implement the recommendations and updated terminology, nominations form, criteria, the selection committee composition, and provided options for the physical award and recognition.

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The NWTRPA Board of Directors also approved a territorial land acknowledgement for the NWTRPA website, and they implemented a “respect of the land” as the first agenda item for all Board meetings.

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The Board of Directors also posted a statement of solidarity with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

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2022

The NWTRPA announced a temporary name change for Walk to Tuk it's annual walking challenge and began a review of the initiative. Jennie Vandermeer Consulting was hired in May 2022 to complete the review with guidance from an NWT advisory committee. 

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As part of it's efforts to put ethical space principles into practice, the Board held a meeting on the Land. 

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The NWTRPA also posted another statement about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

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2023

The first goal in the NWTRPA’s 2023-26 Strategic Plan is decolonization, reconciliation, and racial equity: Continue to transform the NWTRPA through a commitment to decolonization, reconciliation, and racial equity.

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The NWTRPA Board of Directors approved a Racial Equity Plan, and a diversity statement for use in job descriptions. It also reviewed and updated the Human Resources Parameters policy through a racial equity lens.

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The NWTRPA completed the review of Walk to Tuk after community members raised concerns that the program’s name was disrespectful and harmful to Survivors of Indian residential schools. As mentioned above, during the review, the organization temporarily changed the program’s name.

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Guided by an advisory committee of six northern Indigenous people from across the NWT, the review included public engagement sessions in Tuktoyaktuk and online. These sessions invited perspectives from Indigenous Peoples of the NWT, NWTRPA members, Walking Challenge participants, and other NWT residents. The resulting report, Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors, was completed in March 2023.

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The NWTRPA continued to implement recommendation from Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors. This work included: 

• Restoring the program’s original name, Walk to Tuk

• Updating program language to better reflect Indigenous worldviews and northern perspectives

• Integrating the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Canada course into staff and Board orientation

• Commissioning Indigenous writers and artists to create articles and artwork related to walking and Walk to Tuk

Work to implement recommendations continues.

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2024

The NWTRPA updated the territorial land acknowledgement on our website and reviewed its human resources policies to make them more inclusive and equitable. 

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Launched How I Survived, a podcast about recreation at northern residential and day schools. Hosted by Paul Andrew and Crystal Gail Fraser, there are seven episodes in the first season of the podcast. In episode ones, project co-leads Crystal Gail Fraser and Jess Dunkin introduce listeners to the project, podcast, and people and organizations who have contributed to How I Survived. They also proved and overview of the history of residential and day schooling in the NWT. Each of the other six episodes feature an in-depth interview with a Survivor about their life before, during, and after residential and/or day school. Season one features interviews with Rassi Nashalik, Dave Poitras, Beatrice Bernhardt, Ernie Bernhardt, Agnus Kuptana, and Sharon Anne Firth. 

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The How I Survived Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the podcast website. 

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2025

In 2025-2026, How I Survived hosted community listening events in Teet’łit Zheh/Fort McPherson and Inuuvik/Inuvik. These free public gatherings brought together community members of all walks of life to listen to excerpts from the How I Survived Podcast, hear Survivor stories, participate in guided discussions, and make art with materials provided by local artists.

 

The project also hosted school learning events in Tsiigehtchic and Inuuvik. Listening events create welcoming spaces for dialogue, creativity, and intergenerational knowledge exchange. They also support local Indigenous artists, who develop custom beading kits, and nurture creativity and cultural revitalization.

 

Through listening, discussion, education, and the arts, How I Survived continues to honour Survivor stories and deepen public understanding of recreation’s complex place in the histories and legacies of residential and day schools in the Northwest Territories.

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The NWTPRA Board also participated in an Ethical Space session from Chloe Dragon Smith and learned about an Indigenous Governance Model and History of Maskwacis Education from Brian Wildcat. These experiences encouraged the Board to consider how different approaches to governance, decision-making, relationships, and accountability could inform the way the NWTRPA operates.

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Training & Learning

Since 2017, learning about decolonization, reconciliation, and racial equity has remained a priority NWTRPA Board and staff.

 

Training and learning sessions have addressed tops including: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women,, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), anti-racism, ethical space, trauma informed workplace, UNDRIP,  facilitated book discussions, and creating colonial constellations presentation. 

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The NWTRPA has also prioritized participation in on the land and cultural learning opportunities, including dog sledding, visiting Dechinta’s Łiwe Camp, learning to clean ptarmigan, and string games.  

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This work is ongoing. We recognize that reconciliation, decolonization, and racial equity requires sustained learning, reflection, accountability, and action. 

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