DR. ROMAN PETRYSHYN

University of Alberta

How Settler Ethnocultural Communities Can Reconcile with Indigenous Peoples: Some Goals Metis and Ukrainian Canadians Hold in Common to Protect and Enhance Their Community Identities

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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has called for reconciliation between Indigenous and Settler peoples. How can ethnocultural communities adapt their previous ideas, behaviours and strategies to enable new relationships with Indigenous peoples to emerge in the future? Sections 27 and 35 of the Constitution are examined together to identify the legal differences between Indigenous and ethnocultural communities. The Multiculturalism Act and the Indian Act are examined for their similarities regarding individual and collective rights. This framework identifies Metis and Ukrainian Canadians communities as foci for cooperation and reconciliation. Questions are posed asking: what historical similarities Metis and Ukrainian Canadians share to form a common agenda? What principles unite Metis and Ukrainian Canadians in undertaking joint reconciliation efforts? Using the concept of ethnicity as a filter, several TRC recommendations are selected for action that meet both the need and socio-cultural capacity of partner communities. Ukrainian Canadians can initiate joint reconciliation endeavours with the Metis in the fields of education, research, literature, folk and fine arts and communication. Educating the Canadian public about Indigenous and Settler ethnocultural pluralism is a key dimension for reconciliation and the advancement of  a united and democratic Canada.

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Dr. Roman Petryshyn was a long-time activist in the multicultural movement in the 1970s which resulted in his being employed as Northern Director, Cultural Heritage, Alberta Culture for several years. In 1986 he established the Office of Multiculturalism and Native Programming (OMNP) at Grant MacEwan Community College and later became the founding director of the Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre (URDC). He led that centre as the Drs. Peter and Doris Kule Chair in Ukrainian Community and International Development at Grant MacEwan University until he retired in 2015. His research and publications focus on the integration of Ukrainian minorities in Britain and Canada and include  Changing Realities: Social Trends Among Ukrainian Canadians . Currently he is an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Education, University of Alberta.