Providence Village is committed to listening, learning, and taking meaningful action to advance reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Our commitment to reconciliation is deeply connected to our values of compassion, inclusion, integrity, stewardship, and collaboration.
- Compassion calls us to listen with open hearts, acknowledge harm, and support healing—for all Indigenous Peoples and for Survivors, families, and communities affected by residential schools and ongoing colonialism.
- Inclusion means creating a Village where First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples feel respected, seen, and welcomed. It means making space for Indigenous voices, cultures, perspectives, and lived and living experiences at the Village, in our work and our initiatives.
- Integrity calls us to face the truths of the past honestly, take accountability for our role as a Catholic-sponsored organization, and follow through on our commitments with humility and transparency.
- Stewardship reminds us of our shared duty to care for the land in a way that honours Indigenous knowledge and teachings and promotes sustainability for all our relations now and into the future.
- Collaboration is the foundation of this work—we cannot walk this path alone. True reconciliation must be done in a good way and in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, guided by their leadership and perspectives.
Reconciliation Action Plan
Providence Village’s Indigenous Relations Work Team, in consultation with Indigenous community members, developed a Reconciliation Action Plan to guide our organization’s work. Our team is composed of Providence Village senior leadership, staff members and Indigenous community members. This team guides the ongoing work and implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan.
Our plan is rooted in the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and includes objectives and measures to ensure our work is ongoing and responsive.
The priorities in our Reconciliation Action Plan include:
Cultivate Indigenous cultural awareness, understanding and education
Actions 59, 80 and 92
- Provide continuous learning opportunities for staff and leadership
- Observe key dates like National Indigenous History Month, National Indigenous Languages Day, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Provide Indigenous cultural safety training opportunities for staff
Strengthen community engagement, Indigenous representation and Indigenous partnerships
Action 92
- Build and sustain ongoing dialogue and collaborative relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities, and organizations
- Increase Indigenous representation on staff, Board, advisory groups, committees
- Offer accessible, subsidized spaces for Indigenous-led programs, initiatives and events
Create inclusive and culturally safe spaces
Actions 22 and 49
- Provide practical support and accessible spaces for Indigenous-led initiatives, programming and events
- Establish dedicated spaces for Indigenous cultural practices
- Increase Indigenous art and imagery
Responsibly steward the land and environmental resources
- Collaborating with Indigenous partners on conservation, environmental education, and land restoration projects
- Develop environmental education opportunities
- Enhance land and environmental stewardship efforts
- Develop ecological plan for the Village
Promote Indigenous health and wellbeing
Actions 13, 19 and 22
- Promote Indigenous health and wellbeing wherever possible at the Village and among subtenants
- Support the use of Indigenous Healing Practices in health and wellness services as appropriate
- Strengthen relationships with Indigenous health organizations
Ensure long-term commitment and accountability
- Share annual updates on reconciliation progress
- Embed reconciliation principles into policies and planning
- Allocate a dedicated budget to sustain this work
Board of Directors Indigenous Relations Statement
The Providence Village Board of Directors is deeply committed to advancing reconciliation at the governance level. Their Indigenous Relations Statement outlines the Board’s role in supporting reconciliation at Providence Village, including how they will champion this work, uphold accountability, and ensure it remains a priority across all aspects of organizational decision-making.
Providence Village is committed to ongoing, intentional reconciliation built on meaningful collaboration and partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and communities. We are dedicated to building a Village where Indigenous voices are not only heard but are integral to shaping our community. Our approach to this work is informed by Indigenous wisdom and teachings, such as the Dish With One Spoon and Two Row Wampum covenants, which remind us of our shared responsibility to care for one another and the land.
We acknowledge the profound harm caused by colonialism and the residential school system in Canada. We commit to confronting this history with transparency, accountability, and a dedication to meaningful change.
We will work to establish respectful and meaningful relationships to build a welcoming community that serves every member with integrity, compassion and care, and foster a sense of belonging for all. Our goal is to create spaces, policies, operations and offerings that honour Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being, to help Indigenous Peoples feel truly welcome and valued.
Reconciliation is an ongoing process that requires our action, humility, and commitment. We are committed to walking this path together with Indigenous communities, working towards healing, understanding and respect, and forging an inclusive and just future for everyone at Providence Village.
Resilient Spirit: A Path to Mental Healing by Chanelle Blair (on display at Providence Village)
This painting powerfully reflects the Indigenous perspective on mental health and healing, rooted in the deep interconnectedness of family, community, spirituality, and nature. At the heart of the image, a meditative figure wrapped in a culturally rich blanket symbolizes an individual on a journey toward mental wellness. The glowing heart represents inner healing, fuelled by spiritual connection, love and resilience.
Nature surrounds and supports this healing process. The towering cedar trees, flowing water, and aurora-lit sky embody the grounding, cleansing forces of the natural world. Above the figure, a circular design of features and sacred symbols signify the unity of life, where true healing is found through reconnecting with ancestors, traditions, and the spiritual realm.
In Indigenous cultures, mental health is about restoring balance within oneself, with others, and with the land. Traditional practices such as ceremonies, prayers, and immersion in nature guide this path to wholeness. This painting serves as a reminder that healing is not only a personal journey, but a communal one, deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom and the sacred relationship with the earth.
For questions, collaboration opportunities or to learn more about our Reconciliation Action Plan, please email info@providencevillage.ca.