Resurgence Consulting is a non-Indigenous, white-settler organization committed to advancing reconciliation through concrete action. We acknowledge that this journey demands sustained effort, intentional discomfort and unwavering accountability.

This month we are reflecting on what it means to be a company here on these lands.  Reconciliation and Equity work is not about any one month and it is not simply about one blog post. So I humbly acknowledge the brevity of the following and my own limitations in how I communicate and write. What I know is that enough isn’t being done and the world we live in and upon needs us to be better and do better. The future generations need us to do better.

Embracing Constructive Discomfort

Reconciliation requires more than awareness and more than acknowledgement; it demands that we:

• Continually examine our assumptions, beliefs and privileges and do something meaningful with the examination

• Recognize that settler-colonial narratives neither encompass all experiences nor represent all truths and more likely, often misrepresent and perpetuate false narrative and revisionist history: Historical Negationism.

• Confront systemic racism, sexism, transphobia, all forms of oppression, neoliberalism and capitalism—and accept our role in perpetuating them and again do something meaningful with that awareness.

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Foundational Accountability & Transparency – what organizations can do.

It is my belief that our first responsibility is to understand ourselves, both as an organization and as individuals.

We can do this by:

1. Admitting and taking responsibility for past and present harms/atrocities/acts of violence/genocide – we may have not been a part of what happened long ago, but we participate in the ongoing legacy of them now and have a responsibility to do something different now and in the future.

2. Listening attentively to the truths articulated by Indigenous partners—without dilution or defense.

3. Conducting our own research and reflection, rather than relying on Indigenous communities to educate us or teach us. This may involve sitting with Indigenous relatives and we must ask in a good way, honour traditions and time and do not exploit and extract.

4. Refraining from competing for funding, contracts or programs that should be Indigenous-led, ensuring space for Indigenous leadership and self-determination

Resurgence Consulting pledges to exercise humility and respect in our contributions. We will:

• Speak up when our perspective advances equity and inclusion

• Step aside when leadership or guidance rightfully belongs elsewhere

• Pursue answers proactively, acknowledging that this work is our duty.

 

As part of our commitment to Reconciliation and Equity Resurgence will take meaningful action, beyond performative words. Stepping beyond allyship, into co-conspiratorship. Putting something on the line in solidarity We will take feedback when we get it wrong. We will continue to work damn hard to get it “right”.

A Respectful Challenge to Non-Indigenous Decision Makers – what will you do?

If the pursuit of Reconciliation feels comfortable, it may mean you’re not truly engaged. We invite nonprofit managers, executives and all decision makers to:

1. Welcome discomfort as an indicator of progress – step into it, not away from it

2. Hold themselves and their organizations accountable for restorative action – what is it that you are doing? How do you know those actions are meaningful?

3. Lead initiatives that foster healing for all communities and future generations – do the work to determine how you can do that in a good way. How do you support and uphold Indigenous resurgence? Where do you choose to allocate resources?

4. Seek to disrupt existing structures AND to fundamentally transform the systems you operate within and benefit from

5. Begin with a deliberate self-examination—commit to reflecting daily on not just your role and opportunities for change, but also your values, beliefs, social location and biases and how they show up in your work, in your relationships, with the land.

Reconciliation and Equity is more than a blog post in September. Resurgence is dedicated to upholding our commitments in how we work and taking on new ones as we unlearn and learn. The work is ours to do. We need to do better.