Giving back – 2022

For 10 years Know History has worked to capture many of the unique stories that make up our past, inform our present, and inspire the future. As we consider ongoing efforts to decolonize the how and why we work, it is a top priority to ensure that when we give back to the community, it’s not only impactful, but also effective. We accomplish this goal through thought leadership, scholarships, pro bono projects, and monetary donations.

The below report outlines our impact over the past year.

Total Donations from September 2021 to September 2022

Value of pro-bono hours donated to Indigenous history projects

Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival

In June, Know History sponsored the annual Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival (SSIF) held at Mādahòkì Farm. SSIF is a multi-disciplinary arts festival that brings together Indigenous artists, performers, educators, students, and community members to share knowledge and celebrate Canada’s diverse Indigenous cultures. Know History sponsored the Traditional Knowledge program, in which Indigenous speakers and community leaders shared stories, knowledge, traditional crafts and workshops. The SSIF’s goal to support the decolonization of history aligns with our mandate to provide a platform for sharing Indigenous history and honouring traditional knowledge keepers.

Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival

Inuit Studies Conference

In June, Know History proudly sponsored the Inuit Studies Conference held in Winnipeg, which brought together elders, researchers, professionals, artists, and representatives from various Inuit communities to discuss a range of topics related to Inuit society. As part of our sponsorship of the conference, our team put together the panel “Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit – Elders in Conversation.” Susan Enuaraq moderated the session with elders Edna Elias, Luke Suluk, and Jean Simailaq, who shared personal stories and their own experiences with research, community consultation and respectful community interactions for researchers.

Inuit Studies Conference

CIAJ Indigenous People and the Law Conference

As part of our commitment to supporting Indigenous rights and governance, Know History sponsored the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice’s Indigenous People and the Law conference in November 2022. The conference brought together voices from across the legal and Indigenous rights fields to explore self-governance, decolonization of legal institutions, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

CIAJ Indigenous People and the Law Conference

Auntie Up!

We are very proud to sponsor Auntie Up!, a podcast created by Tanya Talaga of Makwa Creative that is for, by, and about Indigenous women. Hosts Jolene Banning and Kim Wheeler bring Indigenous stories to the mainstream, from water rights to women’s sexual health. As part of Know History’s sponsorship of the program, our team has provided pro-bono research to create “Know History Moments” for each episode. Check out Auntie Up! on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and subscribe to hear the latest!

Auntie Up!

National Indigenous Tourism Conference 2022

Know History was proud to sponsor the 2022 National Indigenous Tourism Conference hosted by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC). This year’s conference, held on Tsuut’ina Nation lands in Calgary, brought together innovative Indigenous leaders and business owners from across the country to discuss recovery and resilience in the sector following the Covid 19 pandemic.

National Indigenous Tourism Conference 2022

BC Heritage Fairs

We proud to support the BC Heritage Fair again this year! In addition to providing funding for the event, we sponsored the Know History Award, which is awarded to project with the best use of primary sources. Know History also led an online activity in which students learned about interpretive writing techniques and competed in a writing challenge.

BC Heritage Fairs

Kahnawá:ke Oral History Project, Kahnawá:ke

Know History has partnered with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke to help capture and preserve the oral histories of the community’s Elders for future generations. Know History’s team met with Elders to help collect their stories about life in Kahnawá:ke, recollections from their childhoods spent in the community, as well as their culture, language, and history. Videos taken during these interviews will be used to create a short documentary that will be shared with the interviewees and their families during a community event, as well as full-length interview recordings that will be held by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke. We are honoured to be a part of helping preserve the memories and knowledge of Kahnawá:ke’s Elders.

Kahnawá:ke Oral History Project, Kahnawá:ke

National Gathering on Unmarked Burials

Kimberly Murray, Independent Special Interlocutor, and her team are working closely with Indigenous leaders, communities, Survivors, families and experts to recommend a new legal framework to ensure the ethical protection and treatment of unmarked graves and burial sites at former residential schools. Know History is proud to support this process by attending National Gatherings across Canada and providing resources support communities as they work to access, collect, analyze and store archival documents about residential schools.

National Gathering on Unmarked Burials

NCTR Community Dialogues

We were honoured to participate in the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s “Community Dialogues on Unmarked Burials & Missing Children.” The two-day gathering was focused on intercommunity support and learning. Know History’s team provided an overview of how Indigenous Nations can conduct archival research to identify children who did not return from residential schools.

NCTR Community Dialogues

2022 Canadian Historical Association Annual Meeting

At Know History, we value the opportunity and importance of entering into dialogue with other professionals in the historical research field. The Canadian Historical Association’s (CHA) Annual Meeting, now in its 101st year, brings together historians from across Canada to showcase their research and discuss diverse issues relating to the field. At this year’s meeting, Know History was represented by six of our staff, including our own CEO Ryan Shackleton, who gave presentations on their own research and findings.

2022 Canadian Historical Association Annual Meeting

Aboriginal People’s Television Network

Know History has worked closely with the Survivors’ Secretariat to collect over 12,000 archival documents about the Mohawk Institute Residential School. Research Director Alice Glaze joined survivors and leadership to speak about this ongoing research on Aboriginal People’s Television Network.

Aboriginal People’s Television Network

Check other years reports:

2021

2023

2024

Check other years reports:

2021

2023

2024