The pathway to truth and reconciliation can be an arduous and shameful course that should be approached not only as a destination of reconciliation but a collective journey propelled by truth, education, and acknowledgement.

We must be willing to undertake the journey together and appreciate that each person carries their own experiences, assumptions, and misconceptions and continue the peregrination with an open mind and heart to hear the truth, the lived-experiences, the loss, the frustration, and the desire for progress. 

One key element to move towards reconciliation is the opportunity to learn about the history of Indigenous People in Canada through the lived-experiences, stories, and perspectives of the people who live as Indigenous People in Canada.

Through the Heritage Mississauga Indigenous Conversations program, we welcome various guest speakers to share their knowledge and stories with our viewers and open an honest dialogue about Indigenous history in its entirety as well as focus on what it means to be an Indigenous Person today.

Heritage Mississauga Executive Director, Jayme Gaspar states:

“Reconciliation can only come with a commitment to understand, distinguish truth from lies and learn how to treat each other with respect. Indigenous Conversations provides a way to present the truth from the voices of the Indigenous community.  It provides a safe forum for asking the tough questions and gives us an opportunity to truly understand their lived experience. For decades Heritage Mississauga has fostered their relationship with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.  It is through this effort that we have earned their respect, building a partnership and friendship. We are grateful for their support in helping us to bring this series to the community.”

Our Indigenous Conversations program  provides an opportunity for viewers to engage in the conversation by listening to the guest speakers and asking questions during the live webinars.

We have invited pillars and knowledge keepers of the Indigenous communities to speak during the webinar series ensuring that our viewers receive a diverse and accurate account of Indigenous history, heritage, and current experiences.

Our guest speakers share honest, deeply personal, and educational stories from their own lived-experiences.

To date Heritage Mississauga has held three webinars:

• Indian 101 with Carolyn King

• Truth and Reconciliation with Gimaa (Chief) Stacey Laforme

• Residential Schools with Darlene Laforme

Our final webinar in the 2021 webinar series is scheduled for December 1, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. and will feature guest speaker Carolyn King who will be discussing the Moccasin Identifier Project.

Heritage Mississauga invites you to join us on our YouTube channel to watch the prior webinars and to join the conversation so that we can all take the journey of truth together and collectively continue towards reconciliation.

Indigenous Conversations; Moccasin Identifier with Carolyn King:

December 1, 2021 at 12:00 p.m.
Link: https://mbot.zoom.us/j/87347447960

View prior webinars on the Heritage Mississauga YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeritageMississauga

Listen to prior webinars on our podcast Heritage Bytes: https://heritagebytes.podbean.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts.

Forward any questions that you may have to jgaspar@heritagemississauga.org or visit:  http://mncfn.ca/.

Heritage Mississauga would like to thank our guest speakers, Heritage Mississauga Director Faith Rivers, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation for their continued support and willingness to share their knowledge.

Heritage Mississauga would also like to thank The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund for their financial support to help us bring Indigenous Conversations to a wider community through this webinar series.