The 1000 Ravens campaign is an inspirational event created in hopes of educating people on Truth and Reconciliation. Please share, use and adjust this guide to fit your needs and or ideas.
Presentation format and materials
Please feel free to use our format and materials to help guide your own 1000 Ravens for Reconciliation initiative.
It is important to note that we also give clear messaging to the audience that there might be a need to reach out to someone after the session to debrief, whether that is counselling, talking to a friend or talking with someone from the First Nations Centre. We never know when the video or talks can trigger someone, so it is important to offer a safety net.
Presentation time: 1/2 hour
Making the ravens: 1 hour
1. Traditional territory acknowledgement
(The presentation starts off with the traditional territory acknowledgement)
2. What is Truth and Reconciliation?
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Final Report is a testament to the courage of each and every survivor and family member who shared their story.
- The commission's mandate was to gather the written and oral history of residential schools and to work toward reconciliation between former students and the rest of Canada.
- In 2015 the release of the summary report with the “94 calls to action”- these calls to action urges all levels of government to change policies and programs that work together to repair the harm caused by residential schools and move in a direction that is inclusive, and positive.
3. Beyond the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- The TRC created a historical record of the residential schools system.
- As part of this process, the Government of Canada provided over 5 million records to the TRC.
- The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba now houses all of the documents collected by the TRC
- Website: Learn more about Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
- Website: See how the government is responding to the calls to action
4. 1,000 Cranes
An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted one wish. As a mystical or holy creature, the crane is said to live for 1000 years. In some stories it is believed that the 1000 origami cranes must be completed within a single year for the wish to be granted.
5. 1,000 Ravens
- As of August 2023, we've completed 300 ravens.
- The UNBC First Nations Centre is asking you to make an origami Raven as part of our goal to make 1000 Ravens to symbolize a University-wide wish for Reconciliation.
- The Raven is an important figure within the First Nations culture, Often represented as a trickster, the Raven teaches us valuable lessons. Many creation stories have Raven as the hero, stealing the sun and bringing daylight into a world of darkness.
- With the help of Raven, we can bring light to a dark history and work together to repair and rebuild relationships in a positive way
6. “It’s not about how many one person can make; it’s about how many people can make one.”
Everyone at UNBC is encouraged to make and origami Raven for Reconciliation. Once 1000 Ravens have been completed, they will be displayed prominently at UNBC, celebrating all those who have made personal and professional commitments to Reconciliation
7. How to fold your Raven…..
Stay in touch
We express our gratitude to Beverly Best for initiating the 1,000 Ravens for Reconciliation initiative at UNBC. We are committed to continuing this legacy, and we'd love to hear about how you've made 1000 Ravens for Reconciliation your own.
Contact
Penina Harding
Manager, Indigenous Student Empowerment
fncmanager@unbc.ca