VURD is for everyone who supports reconciliation in Greater Victoria. This includes the urban Indigenous community, First Nations communities, Métis chartered communities, all levels of government, community agencies, school districts, post-secondary institutions, health authorities, faith-based groups, policing, non-Indigenous allies, and more. Our goal is to identify priority actions focused on the urban Indigenous community while including perspectives that are diverse and cover wide demographics and sectors.
“If there is one thing we should commit to with all of our might, it is eliminating and challenging racism in all forms.”
– Ry Moran, Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Gatherings
The VURD Steering Committee has hosted three gatherings, each increasing in size and scope. Each gathering invited people across multiple sectors of the community, including health, education, child welfare, sport and recreation, local, provincial and federal government, to connect with each other, build new relationships and share their own unique stories and perspectives in relation to reconciliation.
VURD has a Steering Committee that formed in 2018 and works collaboratively with the community to create opportunities to build relationships and ideally partner in new and exciting reconciliation activities. The logos below show a growing list of Steering Committee partners. As well, permanent spaces are held for Elders, young adults, and artist representatives from local Indigenous community.
The Steering Committee seeks to understand the meaning and potential impacts of reconciliation for the Victoria region from an urban Indigenous context by focusing on three key areas.
Nutsamaat Shqwalawun* (Working together with one heart, one mind, one spirit.)
*A Hul’q’umi’num expression and teaching shared with us by Shirley Alphonse, Elder advisor to the VURD Steering Committee.
Partners
Victoria Urban Reconciliation Dialogue (VURD) Steering Committee creates an opportunity for key players in reconciliation in the Victoria area to build relationships, dialogue and explore solutions about key issues, and develop shared tools and resources.
Members of the Steering Committee:
Steering Committee also includes dedicated seats forIndigenous Elders, young adults, and artist representatives.
Victoria
Victoria is now home to over 17,000 Indigenous people of diverse cultural backgrounds from across Canada. The majority of Indigenous people in Canada now live in urban areas.
Get Involved
Anyone can be a part of the Victoria Urban Reconciliation Dialogue community. Fill out the form below to learn more about how you can get involved!