“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” — Marcus Garvey
You have probably heard the saying, “those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” It’s a common saying, because it’s true.
As an Indigenous & Women-led business, we here at Staff Shop understand the importance of educating ourselves on the issues of the past so that we might be part of a better future. Remembrance Day was this month, which is a time of reflection to look at what our veterans did for us so that we might remain a free and flourishing country.
Learning and respecting history also shows us how far we’ve come as a society. What leaps and bounds others made so that we can soar today. Sometimes change is small and incremental, but it’s still progress.
Sometimes history makes us sad, but it can also fuel us to inspire change – to do better than those before us. This is particularly important when studying Indigenous history in Canada. Many Canadians of all nationalities and backgrounds were shocked, saddened and disgusted when the unmarked graves were discovered at residential school sites. But we turned our anger into action in many cases. We vowed to be better and to do better now and in the future. This history is painful, but it was necessary for us to reconcile with our Indigenous Peoples. We needed to know the truth so that we could move forward together.
History Tells Our Story
Not only do we need to learn about history to ensure we do not repeat past mistakes, but it also tells the story of how we came to be who we are today. How did we get here and what steps were taken?
Our modern world is complex, and with so much information available, people don’t always know how to filter out what’s true and what’s false. When you have a well-rounded education, which includes the study of our history, we will end up with what Canada’s National History Society calls, “a well-educated, engaged citizenry with the capacity to study our past. The capacity to “think historically” helps citizens make connections between the past and the present and is transferable knowledge that is crucial in these complex times.”
Getting Different Perspectives
Winston Churchill once said, “History is written by the victors.”
What he meant by that is that we often learn about history from the perspective of the majority, which can white wash things. But we can see that this is changing a bit in Canada. School curriculums are now including more Indigenous perspectives and culture, including literature and history. It’s important to examine history from multiple perspectives to gain a greater sense of what actually happened and why.
Here at Staff Shop, we have done our part to help educate others on the importance of learning about and celebrating Indigenous Peoples & Women. We have posted several blogs in the past on this topic, which we encourage you to go back and read.
- 3 Ways to Honour Indigenous Communities Leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Indigenous History Month: The Power of Women’s Stories
- Indigenous Truth & Reconciliation in the Workplace
Obviously, Indigenous history is just one piece of the puzzle, but an important one that helps Canadians get a clearer picture of who we are as a country.
It’s the same reason we mourn veterans on Remembrance Day. We learn about past wars and why our parents and grandparents fought for freedom. We have to go back to what happened in the past to gain a better understanding of where we are today. It’s not always pretty, but it’s certainly important.
And let’s not forget women’s history! As a women-led business, Staff Shop wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the trailblazers that came before us. Women weren’t even considered “persons” in the eyes of the law until 1929! Women being in the workforce is also very recent. Today, women can own businesses, have families and enjoy full lives thanks to the many women who fought for equality. Our history shows us our progress, but also reminds us that we can still achieve more if we support one another and fight for causes that we’re passionate about.
Check out our past blog about supporting mothers in the workplace.
Book a Speaker
Book our Indigenous CEO and Founder Jennifer Ménard-Shand to speak on the topic of Empowering Women and Moving Reconciliation Forward. Visit www.jmenardshand.com or her Speakers Spotlight profile to learn more.
As always, we ask you to Join us or Hire Us!
