1,061 recommendations later and it still feels lonely sometimes for Indigenous families and leaders in Canada. Where are you standing when it comes to truth and reconciliation when all the orange shirts go home?

I've seen immense progress in the past year within many places and people I have strong relationships with. But we need everyone to help if we're gonna make reconciliation and a good life for all a reality. I suggest that we start at the beginning, at call to action #1, do what we can to support parents and bring the children home.

At the invitation of Relational Activists and family helpers based out of Camden, London in the United Kingdom, Michael answered these questions and more!

How would you describe the work that you do?

What motivates you to do it?

How do you know it is making a difference?

The smartest people have responded in pandemic specific ways and I am honoured to know so many and to do what I can to help. I have learned how to be a pandemic public speaker and other organizers and organizations have enhanced programs and systems to be pandemic proof.

So I was thinking some deep thoughts when I was shoveling yesterday. When I was shoulder deep in snow, I realized that shoveling in snow storms was a great metaphor for life and the choices we can make.

“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” This quote from Angela Y. Davis kept coming up as I worked with educators this week who were learning about how to address systemic racism within schools and communities.

For a year and a half I've been trying to create a space where mentors, educators and others who want to bring inspiration, motivation and opportunity to young leaders can come together. That space is a Facebook group called Inspiration & Action for Young Leaders!

There once was a facebook group, and within that facebook group an experiment went down. This experiment was to examine the algorithm and see which emotions really get prioritized. I was surprised at the results!

Orange Shirt Day is going to be very different this year for many reasons. For me it has to do with the holiday, the actions that (I hope) non Indigenous people will be taking and the systems change that will result from it. What are you doing to make a difference?

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. I wanted to share some thoughts, on how urgent this situation is and how important it is for us to take action before the tragedy. Resources and links to mental health supports are included at the end.