Truth and Reconciliation – and a Place for Education

Our journey towards truth and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is one that starts with education. While many of us may choose to educate ourselves on the historic and ongoing mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples across Canada (Turtle Island), it is equally important to educate ourselves on the rich, diverse, and resilient cultures and languages of Indigenous Peoples.

At Marine Atlantic, we’re proud to provide our employees and passengers with safe spaces where they can gain a better understanding and new perspective on Indigenous Peoples, who are the first occupants and traditional stewards of the lands where we operate. Here are just a few ways we’re supporting you and your journey towards truth and reconciliation.

Artwork at Sea and on Land

Artwork serves as a powerful tool for storytelling, preserving traditions, and creating connections between past and present. We proudly display pieces of authentic Indigenous artwork that tell a story of the history, the present, and the future using the artist’s own creative voice.

Our terminal buildings and public areas on the Ala’suinu are home to several pieces of artwork made by Indigenous artists. These artists, who are from Mi’kma’ki and Labrador, used artforms including quillwork, pottery, printmaking, and painting to showcase and preserve their cultural identity and the heritage of generations of Indigenous Peoples.

Learn more about our featured artists here:  https://www.marineatlantic.ca/journey/national-truth-reconciliation-day

Expanding your Vocab

Due to the history of colonialism, Indigenous languages across the nation have been in a critical state of decline, with some languages becoming extinct. The federal Indigenous Languages Act was implemented to help promote Indigenous language learning, support the efforts of Indigenous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen their languages, and promote public awareness of the richness and diversity of Indigenous languages.

The naming of the Ala’suinu was an intentional effort in our journey towards allyship with the Mi’kmaw communities in our operating areas, and in partnership with fluent language speakers. We aim to use our platform to assist with increasing visibility of the Mi’kmaw language and to introducing it to new audiences who may not be familiar with the language.

Some words you’ll learn on the Ala’suinu  (Traveller in Mi’kmaq) include:

Nitaptut (need-up-doot) - Friends

Sipu (see-boo) – River

Plamu (blah-moo) – Salmon

Mikjikj (mick-jickch) - Turtle

Indigenous Learning Library

A new addition in our workplaces, Marine Atlantic employees can take advantage of our Indigenous Learning Libraries, which contain both fiction and non-fiction books that make Indigenous voices more accessible to all employees as they continue their learning about Truth and Reconciliation.

Some titles in our library include “Call Me Indian” by Fred Sasakamoose, “My Indian” by Mi’sel Joe and Sheila O’Neill, “Five Little Indians” by Michelle Good, and “The Right to Be Cold” by Sheila Watt-Cloutier.

Truth and Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that requires education, growth, and change. It does not lead us to a final destination but leads us down a path of continuous learning. For decades, the voices, stories, and traditions of Indigenous Peoples across Canada were silenced. Marine Atlantic is proud to be partners with Indigenous Peoples and communities and provides spaces where their voices, cultures, and history can take centre stage.