Reconciliation project to share stories through video

What does reconciliation mean to you? PowerPoint, Canva, cell phone video, Yuja or Zoom — however you can record your answer to this question, you can participate in this exciting project.

The new reconciliation video project aims to provide a space for students, faculty and staff to share their stories and commitments to reconciliation through video. “We think videos are a modern way to share narratives of reconciliation” explains Chantai Minet, the project facilitator. “We understand oral storytelling is an important method of knowledge sharing and teaching in Indigenous cultures and we felt it was essential to reflect this in our project.”

• The project team, top row, from left: Chantai Minet, Yvonne Poitras Pratt, Liza Lorenzetti. Bottom row, from left: Mick Elliott, Elisa Lacerda-Vandenborn, Patricia Danyluk. Chantai Minet photo

Videos should be two to five minutes in length, answer the question, “What does reconciliation mean to me?” and address one of the themes of transforming knowing, doing, connecting, or being. More information, including example videos, are available on the website. Submissions are being accepted now until April 1 through the website. The project team will review the videos and upload them to YouTube. Participants' stories and commitments will then be shared on the website and an online screening event will be scheduled sometime in June.

Supported by the university’s Indigenous Strategy, ii' taa'poh'to'p, the project has a long-term goal of offering the videos as impactful teaching tools, both on and off campus. “Storytelling connects ways of knowing, doing and being, all of which are essential to move forward with our roles in reconciliation,” says Minet. “We’re looking forward to seeing what students, faculty and staff create to share with the community.”