OKN’s Indigenous Reconciliation initiative considers Truth and Reconciliation as two distinct entities, as illustrated above. Learn more about this graphic in our Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy.

Children spend a great deal of their first 8 years learning in schools, thus, how schools connect to their community is important. Progress in this area will show good connections between schools, parents, community resources and the local neighbourhood.
Indicators:

  • Parental involvement in schools
  • Youth as resources
  • Volunteerism
  • Community use of schools
Children thrive in neighbourhoods that are safe and connected. Neighbourhoods that can meet all of our needs are valued.
Indicators:

  • Neighbourhood safety
  • Neighbourhood cohesion
  • Walkability
  • Caring for the community
Safe environments benefit children by providing a sense of personal security that allows them to take maximum advantage of learning, playing and making new friendships.
Indicators:

  • Child care capacity
  • Quality child care
  • Parenting capacity
  • Parental monitoring
  • Quality time at home with family
Safe environments benefit children by providing a sense of personal security that allows them to take maximum advantage of learning, playing and making new friendships.
Indicators:

  • Serious injury
  • At-risk behaviours
  • Safety from harm
All children need positive connections to their parents/caregivers, peers, school and community.
Indicators:

  • Supportive and caring environments
  • Boundaries and expectations
  • Commitment to learning
  • Positive values
  • Social competencies

Learning is one of the cornerstones for success in life and starts at birth. Community progress for this result will show that children are learning both in their preschool and school years.
Indicators:

  • Preschool learning opportunities
  • Student achievement (EQAO)
  • Healthy body weight
  • School engagement

Good health is a prerequisite for positive outcomes for children and youth. Both physical and emotional health are valued in this result. In addition, given the critical brain development that takes place in the first 12 months of life, infant health is closely monitored.
Indicators:

  • At-risk births
  • Healthy eating
  • Healthy body weight
  • Physical activity
  • Mental health

Indigenous Reconciliation

Circles intersecting representing Indigenous Reconciliation
IR OKN logo horiz 01 web
Orange shirt neckless

OKN’s Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy

Our Kids Network began its Truth and Reconciliation journey in 2019 and is considered a thought leader in this area for the Halton Region. Our Kids Network believes that acts of Reconciliation are meaningless unless those acts are based on credible information from an Indigenous perspective. This is the Truth.

Want to learn more? Read OKN’s Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy.

Image of rocky shoreline

Reflecting and Honouring the Recommendations on the Local Level

As a Halton-wide network OKN is greatly beneficial in meeting the goals of reflecting the recommendations and honouring the calls to action across agencies and organizations. OKN will help to introduce and create partnerships relevant and meaningful to the Indigenous Reconciliation Plan, and can provide access to research that will inform it. Read the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and the Ten Principles of Reconciliation. Full Report.

Two Native American female girl dancers at annual pow-wow at Queens County Farm Museum.

Indigenous Literacy & Truth Resources

Whether you are looking to start your journey or want to enrich your learning, OKN has many resources to assist you. OKN’s curated and credible tools will assist you in conducting a Land Acknowledgement, working with children, or learning more about Residential Schools in Canada.

Search our resources

Photo credit: Courtesy of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

Community Engagement

Truth and Reconciliation is powerful when it is done together. Involving OKN’s protocol partners and community agencies has advanced Truth and Reconciliation in the Halton Region beyond what we imagined could happen in three short years. Look at some of the events OKN’s Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy has been involved in:

Debwewin
Drum Workshop
ROCK Staff Gathering for Orange Shirt Day
Halton CAS Room Dedication

OKN organization graphic