June has been a difficult month. With confirmation that over 1,300 Indigenous children were stolen from their families, only to die or be killed and buried without being named or honoured, our country is in a time of awakening and mourning. We know that this is just the beginning since only four of 150 schools have been investigated.
Blue House Energy is based in Eske’kewa’kik (now called Glen Haven) on the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaw people - a land that is meant to be governed according to the Peace and Friendship Treaties. We are grateful for a culture that has always been rooted in respect for the Earth and are committed to learning about and promoting Netugulimk through our work. Netugulimk (ned-oo-goo-leemk) is a traditional Mi’kmaw concept that celebrates connection and balance between the human and natural worlds. It’s about reciprocity and taking only what we truly need to live. This ethos is at the heart of what we do and why we are so passionate about our training for the building and renovation industry.
On July 1st, we will be standing with the Indigenous peoples of this land and are approaching it as a time of remembrance and acknowledgment instead of celebration. Words are not enough when it comes to reconciliation, so we are demonstrating our solidarity with donations to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS), and Indpsire, a national organization that supports Indigenous youth to further their education.
If you want to learn more about being an ally, here are two summary resources, one from the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs and one from Bryson Syliboy - Mi’kmaw from Sipekne’katik First Nation. Please take the time to read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.
We encourage you to support Indigenous people and businesses as one part of our work toward reconciliation. If you are looking for a place to make a donation, here are a few we know would benefit:
Indian Residential School Survivors Society (a provincial organization with a 20-year history of providing services to Indian residential school survivors): https://www.irsss.ca
Indspire (focuses on/funds education of Indigenous youth): www.indspire.ca
Legacy of Hope Foundation (promotes healing and reconciliation through education about the history of residential schools, 60s scoop, etc): legacyofhope.ca
Indigenous Housing Partnership (a division of Habitat for Humanity): https://habitat.ca/en/about-us/indigenous-housing-partnership
