Latest news with #TruthandReconciliation
Zawya
29-05-2025
- General
- Zawya
President Cyril Ramaphosa establishes a Commission of Inquiry into delay in investigation and prosecution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a proclamation for the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes. The commission will be chaired by retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe. She will be assisted by retired Northern Cape Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and Adv Andrea Gabriel SC. The establishment of the commission of inquiry is part of an agreement reached in settlement discussions in a court application brought by families of victims of apartheid-era crimes. President Ramaphosa said: 'For many years, there have been allegations of interference in these cases. This alleged interference is seen as the cause of an unacceptable delay in the investigation and prosecution of brutal crimes committed under apartheid. This has caused the families of victims great anguish and frustration. 'All affected families – and indeed all South Africans – deserve closure and justice. A commission of inquiry with broad and comprehensive terms of reference is an opportunity to establish the truth and provide guidance on any further action that needs to be taken.' The Commission must inquire into, make findings, report on and make recommendations on: - whether, why, to what extent and by whom attempts were made to influence members of the South African Police Service or National Prosecuting Authority not to investigate or prosecute cases identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; - whether any members of the SAPS or the NPA improperly colluded with such attempts to influence or pressure them; - whether any action should be taken by an Organ of State, including possible further investigations or prosecutions, of persons who may have acted unlawfully; - whether the payment of any amount in constitutional damages to any person is appropriate. The commission will cover the period from 2003 to the present. Interested parties include victims or families of victims in TRC cases who have a substantial interest in these matters, including parties in the current application proceedings against the President and government. The commission will be expected to complete its work within six months from the date of this proclamation and submit its report within 60 days after the completion of its work. While the families of victims and government have agreed to the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry, we were not able to reach a settlement on other matters in the application. Government believes that these matters will be addressed through the commission of inquiry while the families want the matters to be determined by a court. The President respects the decision of the families to seek a court order on the violation of their rights and constitutional damages through the courts. However, government is seeking a stay of application on these outstanding matters pending the conclusion and outcomes of the commission of inquiry. 'As the commission undertakes this important task, we welcome the firm commitment by the NPA and the South African Police Service to investigate and, where appropriate, to prosecute the outstanding TRC cases. In recent years, the NPA has reopened and pursued priority cases. It has assigned dedicated resources to ensure these cases are dealt with effectively. 'As this government, we are determined that those individuals responsible for apartheid crimes and who were not granted amnesty by the TRC be held to account. 'This commission of inquiry is an opportunity to draw a line under a painful period in our country's history. It is an opportunity to establish the truth and take steps, to the extent possible, to put right what may have gone wrong. 'I thank the Commission chairperson and two assistants for agreeing to take on this responsibility and wish them well in their work,' President Ramaphosa said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Hamilton Spectator
20-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Marie Wilson in Sydney to speak about new book
Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Marie Wilson will be in Sydney on Tuesday as part of her Maritime book launch tour. She will speak publicly both in Membertou during the afternoon and at the Eltuek Arts Centre in the evening. Wilson is a Canadian journalist and public administrator who served as one of three commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. In 2009, she became the lone non-Indigenous commissioner on the commission. She has just released a book based on her experience serving as a Commissioner called 'North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner' (Strong Nations Publishing, Nanaimo, BC 2024). Impressive credentials She came to the position with impressive credentials. In 1982, Wilson was the first host of Focus North, a CBC news program. She researched, reported, wrote and hosted the broadcasts. Her stories educated the public on Canadian cultural and political issues from a northern point of view and both celebrated and supported diverse northern cultures and their struggle for Indigenous rights across the country. In 1995, Wilson created the North's first daily television news service that was reported in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. She continued to hire, train and support Indigenous staff and on-air personalities. In 2009, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's mandate was to allow residential school survivors and their families tell their stories to help themselves and their communities heal. It also sought to create a historical record of the abuses of the residential school system and to recommend ways for survivors and all Canadians to move forward. Wilson, along with Wilton Littlechild and Murray Sinclair travelled the country hearing from some 6,750 people. A report was released in 2015, which drew from five million documents and included 94 Calls to Action. As Wilson describes in her book, she then worked to urge the reading and discussion of the calls to action, to encourage their implementation. A release from her publishers describes: 'With the skills of a journalist, the heart of a mother and grandmother, and the insights of a life as a spouse of a residential school survivor, Commissioner Wilson guides readers through her years witnessing survivor testimony across the country, providing her unique perspective on the personal toll and enduring public value of the commission. 'In this unparalleled account, she honours the voices of survivors who have called Canada to attention, determined to heal, reclaim, and thrive.' Book tour The book tour in the Maritimes is sponsored by the Maritime Regions Justice, Mission and Outreach Committee of the United Church of Canada and Women of First Light – an eastern hub of a non-profit group led by Indigenous women from Wabanaki Territory. Wabanaki includes parts of Quebec, all three Maritime provinces and northeastern United States, and includes five nations with their own languages. The purpose of Women of First Light is to heal its communities and families by remembering and returning to the traditional ways of their ancestors. Wilson speaks Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, and at 7:30 p.m. at the Eltuek Arts Centre. Both events are open to the public and all are welcome.
Cision Canada
13-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
IG Wealth Management and Red River College Polytechnic Announce Inaugural Recipients of IG Empower Your Tomorrow Indigenous Scholarships Français
WINNIPEG, MB, May 13, 2025 /CNW/ - IG Wealth Management (IG) and Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) today announced the inaugural 10 recipients of the IG Empower Your Tomorrow Indigenous Scholarship. The 2025 scholarship includes $12,000 in financial support for each student to pursue their studies, a paid work-integrated internship at IG's headquarters in Winnipeg and various year-round supports such as navigating childcare options and services, wellness and mental health resources and professional development. Additionally, RRC Polytech is creating opportunities for the scholarship recipients to develop their soft and hard skills through workshops and local conferences. The scholarship is a part of the IG Empower Your Tomorrow program at RRC Polytech, initially announced in January 2024. The program supports up to 300 RRC Polytech Indigenous students each year within the School of Business, Information Technology, Creative Arts and the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. Students benefit from an IG Empower Your Tomorrow Navigation Coach, who assists with their academic journey, promotes overall well-being and provides career coaching and mentorship opportunities. The 10 2025 IG Empower Your Tomorrow scholarship recipients are: "I would like to congratulate each student and thank RRC Polytech for their ongoing partnership as we work together to provide Indigenous students with the support they need to thrive academically and professionally," said Damon Murchison, President and CEO, IG Wealth Management. "I'm looking forward to having this group join us at IG this summer and am certain they'll make an impact on our business while benefitting from the experience." The scholarship recipients will work in various departments across IG this summer, gaining valuable professional experience through hands-on corporate engagement. IG employees will also have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with Indigenous talent for future opportunities. "It's inspiring to see our partners actively answering calls to Truth and Reconciliation by investing in the success of Indigenous students," said Jamie Wilson, Vice President, Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development, RRC Polytech. "Thanks to IG's support, we're not only celebrating the first award recipients – we're witnessing how meaningful partnerships like this can pave the way for students to thrive in their education and be welcomed into the careers they're pursuing. Financial support like this helps ease the challenges students face when they leave their communities, including the high cost of living in an urban centre, tuition and school-related expenses like books and equipment, as well as transportation and childcare costs." About IG Wealth Management Founded in 1926, IG Wealth Management ("IG") is a Canadian leader in delivering financial planning with approximately $139 billion in assets under advisement as of April 30, 2025. For more than 95 years, IG has been focused on improving the financial well-being of Canadians so they can confidently embrace all of life's possibilities. Through a network of advisors located across the country, IG provides approximately one million clients with personalized advice, comprehensive financial planning, insurance and mortgage services and professionally managed investment solutions. IG is a member of IGM Financial Inc. (TSX: IGM), part of the Power Corporation group of companies and one of Canada's leading diversified wealth and asset management organizations with approximately $270 billion in total assets under management and advisement as of April 30, 2025. For more information, visit About Red River College Polytechnic RRC Polytech is Manitoba's largest institute of applied learning and research, with more than 150 full- and part-time degree, diploma and certificate options. Through hands-on and online learning opportunities and state-of-the-art instruction, we prepare our students to become leaders in their fields — while also ensuring they can meet changing industry demands, and contribute to the province's economic growth.
CBC
07-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Invictus Games bring meaningful Indigenous inclusion at major international event
Athletes and spectators at the 2025 Invictus Games will be part of the first international multi-sport games fully inclusive of the four local First Nations hosts. Canada will see a new meaning to the power of sport through full, meaningful Indigenous inclusion in a major international Games, said 2025 Invictus Games board member Wilson Williams (Sxwixwtn). "We're playing host to the world and we're a major part of it," said Williams, a spokesperson and council member of the Squamish Nation. Squamish is one of the four host nations whose lands the Invictus Games take place on, alongside Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Líl̓wat nations. Created by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, the Invictus Games encourage recovery and rehabilitation to wounded, injured and sick service men and women across the world through the power of sport. This is the second time Canada will host the Invictus Games, following Toronto in 2017, and will debut adaptive winter sports in addition to the previous core five sports. Fifty-six current and former service men and women competing for Team Canada across all events. Williams said the Invictus Games, which kick off Saturday, are an example of "international reconciliation" with Canada. Indigenous involvement in the Games is part of their commitment to uphold the Truth and Reconciliation's call to action No. 91, which calls on Canada to include Indigenous nations in the planning and participation of major international games. "This is among the first times, including for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, that an international governing body has awarded a major event at the invitation of and with the support of the Four Host Nations on whose land these Games will be played," Robyn McVickar, chief operating officer and deputy CEO for the Invictus Games Vancouver-Whistler 2025 wrote in a statement to CBC Sports. Although the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics had First Nations involvement, the Games faced controversy from various Indigenous peoples at the time, including questions over land rights, where the venues were constructed and criticism on the design of the official logo. Planning since 2022 Each of the four host First Nations has a representative on the Vancouver-Whistler Invictus Games' board who has been involved in the planning since 2022. Along with Williams from Squamish is Chief Wayne Sparrow from Musqueam Nation, Chief Jen Thomas from Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Chief Dean Nelson fromLíl̓wat Nation. "We hope this sets a precedent for future Games and inspires other international sporting organizations to embrace Indigenous leadership and partnership in their events," McVickar said. Along with overseeing the Invictus Games Foundation's visits to the four hosts' lands before their selection, Williams was also part of the London delegation in March 2022 to bid directly. The first night Williams and his team were in London, he called his aunt, a Squamish Elder and language speaker, who was brought to tears as she told him the last time a Squamish person was in London wearing regalia was in 1906 when Chief Joe Capilano addressed then King Edward VII. "It grounded us, but it also helped us prepare for the bid," Williams said. The first picture the delegation showed the foundation during their presentation was of Chief Capilano. "We have this shared healing story, this big commonality of Indigenous people and perseverance and that strength alongside with the Invictus movement," he said. "That's a big part of the unity that we have." Over the past three years Williams has had the opportunity to see the Invictus Games twice, including the closing ceremony in Dusseldorf, Germany in 2023. Sitting in his full regalia, he was moved to tears by the athletes' strength and overcoming their challenges. "It was truly something," he said. The Games have engaged with the four hosts for everything from local Indigenous protocols – including land acknowledgements at each sport sessions – to the design of the logos and medals to the "theming" of the opening and closing ceremonies with colour commentary in Indigenous languages. "I feel, the opening ceremonies is the big welcome to the world and all the people involved in the Invictus Games," Williams said. There has also been cultural education for staff and leadership who have been part of planning the Games. Williams said there will be cultural identification throughout the games such as in the Athlete's Village, contemporary performances and art exhibitions and particularly the medals. Medals designed by Líl̓wat artist The medals were designed by Levi Nelson, a Líl̓wat artist who was also one of the designers of the logo with Mack Paul from Musqueam, Olivia George from Tsleil-Waututh and Ray Natraoro from Squamish. "This is a Coast Salish design on a medal that is going around the necks of warriors and veterans that have fought for us all over this world and I'm so proud to have worked with each and every one of the artists from the Four Host Nations," Nelson wrote in a statement to CBC Sports. "These designs come from our ancestors who were also artists." Nelson said he hopes the legacy of the Games will be the beauty and magic of the west coast as well as healing together, something he said reflected in the design of the medals. The medals come with "quarter bags" for the athletes to safely store them, hand woven by weavers from each of the four nations, who made a total of 800 bags. There were also 50 traditional bentwood boxes handmade to present the medals. McVickar said through the many Indigenous cultural experiencing throughout the Games, "we hope competitors and spectators gain a deeper understanding of the resilience, strength and contributions of Indigenous communities." "More than just a celebration of sport, the Games serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of culture, healing, and connection," she said. Williams said legacy after the Games is one of the most important aspects of the four nations' involvement. "We're looking at our own backyards in regards to the challenges we're having in our communities," he said, referencing the ongoing opioid crisis. Williams said the four host nations are in conversation about how to "put a movement" behind the creation of a community healing centre led by traditional practices. But they also want to continue using sport to advocate for the future of their communities.
