September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to learn, reflect, and deepen our understanding of the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools in Canada.
At BCCA, we believe co-operatives are at their best when they are rooted in community, fairness, and self-determination. Living up to those values means listening to Indigenous voices, learning from history, and supporting Indigenous-led economic development, including through co-operatives.
If you’re looking for a place to start, or a way to keep learning, we’re grateful to our friends at Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) for sharing a helpful collection of resources. We’re passing them along to our members and the wider BC co-op community.
Resources to explore
Understanding the history
- 📖 Executive Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: The Commission’s findings and Calls to Action on the legacy of residential schools.
Indigenous co-operatives and economic self-determination
- 🤝 CMC Indigenous Co-operatives Report: A look at the role co-operatives play in supporting Indigenous communities.
- 🌱 Strengthening Equity and Access to Development Supports in Canada’s Co-operative Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Research on how to make co-op development supports more equitable and accessible.
Guides for co-op leaders and members
- 🧭 Indigenous Awareness for Co-op Leaders, from Co-operatives First
- 📘 An Indigenous Co-op Guide, from Co-operatives First
Discover Indigenous-owned co-ops
- 🗺️ CMC’s Find a Co-op map: Explore Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-led co-operatives across the country.
Thank you to CMC for compiling and sharing these resources, and to Co-operatives First for the guides they’ve contributed to the conversation. Reconciliation is ongoing work, and we’re grateful to be learning alongside our members and partners.