Excerpt from Keynote address by Dr. Marie Wilson – Suggested Role of Publishers in Reconciliation

This past June, Truth and Reconciliation commissioner Dr. Marie Wilson delivered the keynote at the Annual General Meeting for the Association of Canadian Publishers. In her keynote she shared her reflections on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and provided some suggestions with publishers about how they might advance reconciliation through their work.

Dr. Wilson was kind enough to share her notes with members of the Association of Canadian Publishers. We thought others may also appreciate the suggestions Dr. Wilson had to offer so we have shared them on our blog. We thank Dr. Marie Wilson for sharing her suggestions and hope others will find them useful.

EXCERPT REMARKS FROM REFLECTION BY TRC COMMISSIONER MARIE WILSON TO 2016 MEETING OF CANADIAN PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – JUNE 8, 2016

…Let me remind you of what the TRC said repeatedly just a few months ago, after six and a half years of work, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its multi-volume final report and Calls to Action:
…That the ending of the TRC is just the beginning of reconciliation….

That there is still so much work to do…
And that you and all sectors of Canadian society need to be fully part of that.

My fellow Commissioners and I have offered a roadmap in our 94 calls to Action of what that continuing work must be. Some of these actions, both directly and indirectly, have your name on it as members of the Canadian corporate sector… and in your role as publishers, as potentially huge contributors to the remedial education that is prescribed in those calls to action.

So I come back to the questions I asked at the beginning:
If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it…did it make a noise?…
You can help to make sure that what has happened in this country over the past 7 years is resoundingly heard…

If a book is written and no one reads it…does it have value?
You can help to make sure that more books, in modern, accessible formats, are written and widely available for reading.

If some sides of a story are never told…can truth exist?
You can play a pivotal role in ensuring that all sides of vital Canadian stories are told, including the previously forgotten or ignored voices and heroes. The most compelling story of all may be the still emerging story of Canada itself…hopefully beginning with an honest portrayal of its upcoming birthday party.

Specifically…and without presuming any expertise in your profession!…here are some suggestions for your consideration:

• Read the 94 Calls To Action (PDF).
• Consider the targets groups in the Calls To Action…they all need materials to work with…schools, university faculties, professional associations, media…They don’t know what you already have in your treasure chests.
• Aggressive circulation of what you already have
• Proactive publishing agenda…reaching out to those targeted groups
• Consideration of annual publishing quota for works that contribute to reconciliation?
• Collaboration with philanthropic circle for sponsorship of publishing initiatives?
• ***Power of Survivor stories…respect their voice, however raw. Support and encourage them. Books have film potential.
• Examples…They Called Me Number One, Indian Horse, Through Black Spruce (films), Up Ghost River, Into the Depths, My Heart Shook Like a Drum,
• Intergenerational voices…The Reason We Walk, etc.

Dr. Marie Wilson has more than 30 years of professional experience as an award-winning journalist, trainer, and senior executive manager. She has also been a university lecturer, a high school teacher in Africa, a senior executive manager in both federal and territorial Crown Corporations, and an independent contractor and consultant in journalism, program evaluation, and project management. She has lived, studied and worked in cross-cultural environments for almost forty years, including Europe, Africa, and various parts of Canada.

Learn more about Dr. Marie Wilson and other commissioners on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada website site – www.TRC.ca.