Indigenous Awareness Group – PNT Fireside Chat

On September 22, 2025, the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA), in partnership with the Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies (SAISIA), and Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO) hosted the Indigenous Awareness Group – PNT Fireside Chat. 

This session is focusing on the theme of Education as Indigenous survivors and how it is related to the newcomers as a part of valuing the communities in Canada.

Key topics and discussions included: 

• The beginners of the mind, a happiness mind as a child – and the residential schools which impacts safety educational environment in the past. 

• Relationship building VS the aspect of dependents – lived experience by the participants. 

• Meaning of spiritual aspects to Indigenous identity need to be educated to understand more than just thinking that they are survivors. 

• Reclaiming the identity as Indigenous communities through educating legacy of Indigenous history and sharing the history of Indigenous, from grade schools – starting at the young age to eliminate stereotypes and stigma. 

• Aspects and healing journeys from survivors with lived experience, sense of healing as survivors, reflection from the survivors learning to cope with/while healing. 

• Recommended Reading: Exploring the History and Culture of Indigenous Peoples in Canada:  
  • 21 Things You May Not Know about the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality – Robert P. C. Joseph 
  • Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation – Andrew Stobo Sniderman, Douglas Sanderson 
  • The Power of Story: On Truth, the Trickster and New Fictions for a New Era – Harold Johnson 
  • Jim Dumont 4th Degree Midewiwin (video: Spirit and Creation) 
  • Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation – Sen Murray Sinclair 
  • Fatty Legs, Road Allowance Kitten, and Relatives with Roots – teaching tools for children 
  • Ally is a Verb: A Guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous People – Rose LaMay 
  • Unsettling Canada – Arthur Manuel, Grand Chief Ronald M. Derrickson, Naomi Klein 
  • Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance – Jesse Wente 
  • Any novels by Richard Wagamese 
  • Rooted in Identity: Indigenous Leadership, Community & Healing 
  • Personal journey of healing through culture and ceremony. Video link here! 
  • Oren Lyons 
  • Memories, Dream, Reflections – C.G. Jung 
  • Black Elk Speaks – John Gneisenau Neihardt 
  • Gandhi – William Manche 

Missed the event or want to revisit the sessions? Click below to access the event recordings. 

Disclaimer: Please note that this video has sensitive contents regarding residential school, Indigenous history and lived experience of the survivors. Viewer discretion is advised.  

Indigenous Awareness Group – Prairie and Northern Territories Fireside Chat Recording 

We thank all our attendees, speakers, and partners for contributing to this important conversation and for helping build thriving, inclusive communities across the PNT region. 

Contact and Contributions

For updates, resource sharing, or to contribute:

• Please email AAISA at events@aaisa.ca