Answering the Call to Action
Educator Charlene Bearhead (pictured) points out features of the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada Giant Floor Map to Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly and RCGS CEO John Geiger at a celebration of the project. (Photo: Ben Powless/Canadian Geographic)
National organizations in Canada encounter incredible diversity among their members – diversity in cultures, goals, backgrounds, experience, age, sex, religion, and values. With such an ambitious undertaking, Indigenous members of the Fellow’s community provided us with a fantastic opportunity to learn. John Geiger, CEO of the RCGS remarked how proud we are of our incredible Indigenous partners, “These are their stories; these are their voices.”
How can we as Fellows do our part in championing change, which involves ensuring these stories and voices are heard? The Naut’sa mawt Initiative is an opportunity to help answer this question.
Discussion
Akaash Maharaj writes…
I think the question touches on why the RCGS is arguably more relevant today than during its early history.
The Society’s creed, “To make Canada better known to Canadians and the world”, clearly implies a mission to deepen understanding of Canada through research and exploration, and to project that understanding through public education and communications. Perhaps less obviously, it also implies a mission to actively build Canada.
Unlike old world states, Canada is not defined by a common language, a common faith, or a common ethnicity. Instead, who we are as Canadians is defined by who we believe ourselves to be. We are not just described by the stories we tell each other; we become the stories we hear about one another.
I think that one of the great privileges of being a Fellow is the opportunity to act as an ambassador for the RCGS, and project the stories the Society uncovers into the broader world. Equally, I think that one of the responsibilities of being a Fellow is to broaden the range of stories the Society receives.
For example, what is the story of the Transcontinental Railway, seen though the eyes of European immigrant communities, who were drawn by the promise of free land through the Dominion Lands Act? What is the story of the railway, seen through the eyes of Indigenous Canadians, whose lands were confiscated for the rail companies? What is the story of the railway, seen through the eyes Chinese-Canadian communities, whose labours built the lines?
Many institutions tell the story of the Transcontinental Railway, of how it bound our country together across our vast expanse of geography. Relatively few institutions try to tell that story from the perspectives of all the peoples touched by the creation of the railway.
If we, as Fellows, are able to encourage Canadians from different backgrounds to share their stories, and are able to funnel those stories into the RCGS’ work, then the Society will develop a deeper and more rounded perspective on Canada, and will not only make Canada better known to Canadians and the world, but will also help to make Canada.