Latest news with #reconciliation
CBC
8 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Northern Ontario city hires its first Indigenous policy advisor
Sault Ste. Marie created a brand new position this year: Indigenous policy and process renewal advisor (or Anishnaabe E-Wiidookaage in Anishinaabemowin). It's a long title with an even longer list of priorities - and we'll hear from Kaitlyn Neveu, the woman taking on the challenge. Kaitlyn Neveu is the City of Sault Ste. Marie's first ever Anishnaabe E-Wiidookaage. That's the Indigenous policy and process renewal adviser in Anishinaabemowin. In her new role, Neveu is tasked to make sure the northern Ontario city meets its commitments to reconciliation by applying the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada calls to action that relate to municipal governance. "The City of Sault Ste. Marie has taken a huge step forward and that I really, truly hope that more municipalities take on this responsibility and put into force the connections and the relationships that are needed between our Indigenous communities," she told CBC's Up North. Neveu said she works with nearby Indigenous communities and leaders, including elders and knowledge keepers to help the city meet its commitment to reconciliation. "This position is certainly a privilege to me," she said. "I'm represented both as a trusted voice for our Indigenous communities and a skilled advisor capable of navigating government structures." Neveu said the city recently approached her about developing a policy around smudging, which she sees as a success. Smudging is a cultural practice that involves burning sacred herbs, such as sage, for purification and cleansing. Before taking on her current role, Neveu said she worked in the child welfare system. "I just realized that we need so much change, and that change starts with education and knowledge," she said. Neveu added that her role lets her connect with non-Indigenous people and help educate them on where Indigenous people "are coming from." "This position allows me to speak our voice," she said.
CTV News
16 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Anishinabe Spiritual Centre transitions to Indigenous-led governance
The Anishinabe Spiritual Centre transitions to Indigenous-led governance, marking a historic step in self-determination and Catholic-Indigenous collaboration. A decades-old spiritual centre in Espanola, Ont., that has served as a gathering place for Indigenous communities and Catholics is now under Indigenous leadership, marking what participants call a historic and sacred moment. Anishinabe Spiritual Centre The Anishinabe Spiritual Centre, a decades-old spiritual centre in Espanola, has served as a gathering place for Indigenous communities and Catholics alike is now under Indigenous leadership as of May 30, 2025. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News Northern Ontario) The Jesuits of Canada formally transferred governance of the Anishinabe Spiritual Centre to a newly formed Indigenous-led board of directors this week, a move celebrated as a step toward self-determination and reconciliation. The transition was commemorated with the gifting of a special medal honouring Pope Francis' 2022 visit to Canada. Rosella Kinoshameg, a respected Indigenous leader from Manitoulin Island, will chair the board. 'To me, it's a sacred moment,' she said. 'It's the beginning of a new chapter, a new way of life for the board of directors. I'm really happy with that.' Established over 40 years ago by the Jesuits of Canada, in partnership with the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie and local First Nations, the centre has been a unique space intertwining Catholic faith and Indigenous traditions. It has hosted thousands for retreats, cultural programs, and spiritual gatherings. Father Jeffrey Burwell, Provincial of the Jesuits of Canada, called the transition a 'feel-good day' and a natural step for the missionary order. 'We come to a place and then we leave,' he said. 'We've reached the point where we can now hand this place over to a Catholic Indigenous-led board. It's a great joy for us, knowing transitions are never the final word in a relationship.' Anishinabe Spiritual Centre The Anishinabe Spiritual Centre, a decades-old spiritual centre in Espanola, has served as a gathering place for Indigenous communities and Catholics alike is now under Indigenous leadership as of May 30, 2025. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News Northern Ontario) Eddie MacDonald, the centre's executive director, described the shift as a long-awaited milestone. 'This is a historic day,' he said, noting its alignment with the 60th Call to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which emphasizes Indigenous self-governance in spirituality. 'The people here are grown up – they can take care of business now.' The Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie will remain a collaborative partner, with Bishop Thomas Dowd emphasizing the centre's role as a bridge. 'My job is to bring people together,' he said. 'This centre has been a jewel for ministry and service. I see an opportunity for growth, a place of encounter.' Plans are underway to welcome students for field trips, showcasing how culture and faith can coexist – a model the centre has embodied for decades.
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
For David A. Robertson, stories are at the heart of reconciliation
Social Sharing Through his books and public speaking, David A. Robertson has dedicated his career to sharing stories about Indigenous people. Robertson began publishing books in 2010 and has since released 33 titles, including picture books, graphic novels, fiction and memoir. With each of his stories, the Winnipeg author delves into hard truths, always with a gentle touch and a profound sense of hope. His recent book, 52 Ways to Reconcile, is a guide for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who want to take action when it comes to reconciliation — and shows how we can work together on the long road ahead. "I really do think it's a community movement and it's not good enough for one [group] to understand the other," he said on Bookends with Mattea Roach. "It's for us to do the work to talk with each other. I can't stress that enough." A two-time Governor General's Literary Award winner and a member of the Norway House Cree Nation, Robertson shared his approach to building community between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people — and why the term "reconciliation" might not be the right word for it. Mattea Roach: I think reconciliation entered the vocabulary for a lot of people when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established back in 2008. But that wasn't the first time the word reconciliation was used to talk about Indigenous peoples and their relationship with Canada. What does the word reconciliation mean to you? David A. Robertson: I've been lucky enough to go to schools across Canada to speak to kids, teachers and adults all over the place. As I've done this work, I've come to a better understanding of what we're trying to do. I do think that reconciliation, in the broad sense that people think about it, is a misnomer because we're not trying to return to anything. We're not trying to fix something that was not broken before. The relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canada has always been broken. So it's not exactly the right word, I don't think. I used it, but I just want people to think critically about everything — so we think critically about this word. What we're trying to do, it's building relationships, it's building community. It's doing that through mutual understanding and respect. What we're trying to do, it's building relationships, it's building community. It's doing that through mutual understanding and respect. - David A. Robertson So we're not trying to build or return to anything. We're trying to build something for the first time. If we keep that in mind, I don't care what you call it, as long as we're doing things properly and with the right kind of vision. I think that conversation hopefully focuses that vision onto the right kind of goals we need to have. You've said that you see reconciliation as a verb. Can you talk more about that concept? It is an action, it is intentionality. We need to continue to think about the actions that we can take in our own capacities and have a long-term view and know that we need to continue to act into the future. My dad used to say that — I'll probably mention my dad every single answer I give — if he did things the right way, he won't see the results of the actions that he's taken in his lifetime. I was given this amazing reminder of that when, after he died, I was giving a personal development session to Indigenous teachers at the Canadian Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg. My dad worked in Indigenous education and after the session, the teachers came up to me and told me that a lot of them were there because of my dad. I saw what he meant there and I wish he was there to see that, but he knew he didn't have to be, he wouldn't be. We have a long road to go and a lot of actions need to be taken and will need to be taken for the foreseeable future. - David A. Robertson It's a continual action and keeping in mind as well that we're still trying not only to heal from what's happened, but we'll be trying to heal from what is happening now for a long time. We still have colonial systems in this country that are doing damage. That means that the clock hasn't started ticking yet to when we need to start healing as a whole. The foster care system, the education system, justice, all of these systems are still in place that are doing harm. So we have a long road to go and a lot of actions need to be taken and will need to be taken for the foreseeable future. If we take them with intentionality and with the knowledge that we all do have a role and we all can take an action and we should take an action, that's when we change this word into a verb. And that verb is a motivational factor for us to continue to do the work together as a community. You say that stories are at the heart of reconciliation. Why is that for you? Reconciliation is inexorably linked with truth. You can't get healing, whatever way you want to talk about it, without truth. And the truth lies in the stories that we tell. My dad and I used to talk about reconciliation as a conversation. It's not a one way conversation. It's like what we're doing now, sitting across the table and talking to each other and listening, really listening to each other and working to understand each other and come to respect through understanding. That's what it is. Then, through that, we see two things. One of them is that we're all people. We share the human condition. And the other thing is that the things that set us apart, the differences, make us stronger as a community. There's a teaching of non-interference in the Cree culture and that is that you don't interfere with how someone else lives. You try to model a good life through how you live. I think that's a really good way to go about anything.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Reconciliation: How A Deficit Control Tool Adds Fuel To The Debt Fire
Much like the broader U.S. budget process, a legislative procedure currently being used to advance Republican policy priorities such as tax cuts and increased spending on border security has evolved to a point where it no longer serves its intended purpose. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, now before Congress, is being considered using a budgetary tool known as reconciliation, which was designed to expedite passage of deficit-reducing measures. While the 1974 law establishing the procedure did not strictly limit the use of reconciliation to deficit reduction, the overarching goal of that legislation was to equip Congress with stronger tools to adopt responsible budgets. Unfortunately, the present application of reconciliation is threatening to do just the opposite, increasing the national debt by trillions over the next decade. The term 'reconciliation' refers to a unique component of the congressional budget process. While often contentious, current budgetary procedures once found success because elected officials were committed to adhering to statutory budget rules and possessed the political will to elevate governance and the country's fiscal well-being above other considerations. The budgetary surpluses achieved between 1998 and 2001 were, at least in part, a product of that more disciplined approach. Federal budgeting is designed to begin with the president submitting a funding request to Congress, followed in short order by the development of an intra-legislative branch budget resolution. Though lacking the force of law, this resolution serves as a fiscal blueprint guiding broad spending, revenue, and debt levels for the upcoming year. While not required, the resolution can include reconciliation instructions directing action from congressional committees responsible for mandatory programs and revenues. (Annual appropriations matters are typically considered separately.) Those committees are typically tasked with developing proposals to generate program savings or higher revenues for activities under their purview. Essentially, they are instructed to craft legislation that, if enacted, would reconcile spending and revenue levels with the budget resolution's targets. Once such legislative language is developed, a reconciliation bill is introduced and makes its way through the legislative process. Reconciliation measures benefit from expedited consideration, requiring a simple majority for passage, unlike the regular process which demands 60 votes to overcome a filibuster in the Senate. Reconciliation Process Congressional Research Service Given the relative ease of passing legislation through reconciliation, it has evolved to become an end-run around regular legislative order. Concern about how the procedures might be used dates back to the adoption of the Byrd Rule in 1985. That rule restricted the inclusion of 'extraneous' provisions—those lacking significant fiscal impact—in reconciliation bills. From its inception in 1974 until the end of the 20th century, reconciliation had been used to reduce deficits. While policy objectives such as welfare reform were accomplished using reconciliation, such legislation was expected to result in fiscal savings. That changed in the 21st century when reconciliation began to be used to expedite the passage of legislation that, while having fiscal impacts, would increase deficits. Prime examples include the tax cuts enacted through reconciliation in 2001 (though the intent then was to reduce forecast surpluses rather than increase deficits), 2003, and 2017, as well as the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. The Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022, was initially thought to be a deficit-reducing measure, though a growing body of research on the topic suggests the IRA could add to the deficit or at least generate smaller amounts of deficit reduction than expected. The evolution of reconciliation, from facilitating deficit reduction to making it easier to add to the national debt, has not followed a straight line. Congress has at times over the past 20 years tightened rules by prohibiting its use for measures that raise deficits and disallowing instructions that would increase net mandatory spending. For instance, the Conrad Rule, in effect from 2007 to 2015, sought to rein in the practice of worsening deficits through reconciliation and instead returned the procedure to its original purpose, deficit reduction. The abandonment of past constraints like the Conrad Rule has created a loophole, enabling legislators to use reconciliation to enact policies that could harm the nation's fiscal outlook, simply by demonstrating fiscal impact. Another indicator of how poorly the current budget process is faring at present is the fact that Congress is pursuing reconciliation legislation for the fiscal year that ends in four months. Reconciliation was designed to be completed before the fiscal year begins. Longer-term fiscal policies, however, are affected by the legislation making its consideration relevant for years beyond FY 2025. A key driver of the bill is a desire by some elected officials to extend certain tax reductions passed via reconciliation during the first Trump presidency, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The Byrd Rule affected the content of TCJA because it does not allow reconciliation legislation to increase the deficit beyond a 10-year budget window. To comply with that requirement, key parts of the tax cut package are slated to expire at the end of 2025. Add to that a number oBudget f new Trump administration priorities, like additional tax cuts and more spending for border security and the military, coupled with an increasingly compelling need to extend the nation's debt limit, and one big bill results. Whether it's beautiful is in the eye of the beholder. Despite the built-in advantages of using reconciliation, some policymakers are also advocating a shift to a current policy baseline to assess the cost of the legislation. Arnold Ventures has made clear in several recent publications that such an approach hides the true fiscal impact on taxpayers and further undermines the U.S. fiscal position. In a previous post on I wrote about how the U.S. budget process is broken and requires considerable reform to put the nation on a sustainable fiscal path. Contrary to the intent of existing budgeting statutes like the law establishing reconciliation procedures, the legislative package now moving through Congress will cause the national debt to soar. And it will do so by leveraging a process designed to do just the opposite. Clearly, we need to rethink our broken budget process—manipulating reconciliation is hardly the only issue. Otherwise, we must reconcile ourselves to an ever-expanding national debt and the substantial risks accompanying that unstable fiscal state.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Cruz Beckham posts message saying ‘Be kind and tell the truth' amid family rift with his brother Brooklyn
Cruz Beckham shared a cryptic post to Instagram saying 'tell the truth' on Thursday amid growing tensions in his family. His parents Victoria and David have become distant from their son Brooklyn, 26, and his wife Nicola Peltz, 30, after they failed to attend any of the ex-soccer star's 50th birthday celebrations last month. And it appears the youngest brother, 20, is desperate to put an end to the growing family rift as he wrote: 'It takes 43 muscles in your face to frown, and 17 to smile. Be kind and tell the truth.' Despite flying to London, Brooklyn and his wife Nicola didn't attend the big family party at the Beckhams' countryside Cotswolds home, the trip to France or the meal at the north London Core. Earlier this week, there was further proof of the irreparable nature of the rift when Brooklyn and Nicola jetted to the capital from their home in Los Angeles on Monday for a joint photoshoot with Italian luxury fashion brand Moncler. It took place less than two miles away from the Beckham family home in Holland Park, west London. Brooklyn didn't even tell David and Victoria they were in the country - let alone meet with them. But Brooklyn appeared to have made a tentative sign of peace with his parents David and Victoria. He has not severed all ties with his parents as he still proudly claims the familial link to his hot sauce brand Cloud23. Brooklyn launched the brand in September last year and revealed the '23' in the name was a nod to David's famous No. 23 jersey which he wore while playing for Real Madrid and again for LA Galaxy. When a customer wrote in asking for more information about the brand, Brooklyn's team replied proudly restating how it honors his father. They said: 'The 23 included in our brand is a warm nod to Brooklyn's father, David Beckham, who wore number 23 while playing for Real Madrid and LA Galaxy, inspired by NBA legend Michael Jordan.' The reference to David being a 'warm nod' is significant given the current strained relationship between father and son. Iconic: Brooklyn launched hot sauce brand Cloud23 in September last year and revealed the '23' in the name was a nod to David's famous No. 23 jersey Brooklyn previously said of his childhood: 'We were always doing something. But, I have the best mum and dad in the world and it was a lot of fun' (pictured age 14 with Victoria in 2013) However, there is currently no mention of David anywhere on the Cloud23 website. The 'Cloud' part of the name reflects the brand's tagline, 'Flavor beyond the clouds'. And the Cloud23 name also refers to the fact Brooklyn proposed to Nicola on June 23, 2020. In an interview with InStyle last year while he was promoting the brand, Brooklyn spoke about his then-great relationship with David and Victoria. 'I had a crazy childhood, man. I was so happy,' he fondly recalled. 'It was hectic because my dad played football and my mum was a Spice Girl. Spice Girls was the first few years of my life, so it was hectic. We were always doing something. But, I have the best mom and dad in the world and it was a lot of fun.' While growing up in the spotlight can be difficult, Brooklyn insisted he 'wouldn't change a thing' about his upbringing. 'Everyone's always like, 'How is it like to have famous parents?' I'm like, 'Honestly, they're just my mum and dad.' I don't think of them any other way,' he said.
