Use the red button at the bottom of this page to bring up the Registration Form. 

 

Common interest in achieving truth and reconciliation and equality of opportunity for Indigenous people is the only requirement for participation along with respect for one another in the Circle. Trained facilitators ensure that equal sharing occurs.

Locations

  • Check out our lists of upcoming circles which include location and times if available.
  • Note that the locations are simply physical spots and there is no requirement for membership in any of the organizations where the Circles are being held.
  • If one of the listed Circles suits your requirement, indicate that in the comments section of your registration.
  • Please register even if there is currently no Circle listed to be offered in your area. New Circles across the country are always in development as we collect the registrations.

Cost and timing

  • There is no cost to individual participants.
  • Each meeting is approximately 90 minutes.
  • Participation includes an expectation of attendance at 7 meetings.

Open invitation

  • If you know others who might like to take part, please invite them to submit their registration.
  • Once we have 10 participants (5 Indigenous and 5 non-Indigenous), you will be contacted about the details for your Circle.

Our guiding principles

  1. *The Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe
    LOVE: it is important to care for one another
    HONESTY: better to fail with honesty than succeed by fraud
    RESPECT: give it, earn it, receive it
    TRUTH: it is always easiest to speak the truth
    HUMILITY: to be humble about your accomplishments is to be strong
    COURAGE: let nothing stand in the way of doing the right thing
    WISDOM: with hard work and dedication will come knowledge

    talking stck
    talking stick
  2. With the help of a talking stick, each person in the circle group will be listened to in turn, treated with respect and valued for their insights.
    In Zoom Circles, we create a virtual circle with the same purpose of ensuring that everyone will be listened to.
  3. Meeting times are 90 minutes, with each group meeting for seven weeks, thus requiring a serious commitment.
  4. We will always endeavour to provide support for any participants experiencing trauma.
  5. Because both personal and cultural differences play a role in the willingness and comfort level of people speaking in a group, respect, patience and courtesy are to be the hallmarks of the groups.
  6. It is very important that we all recognize that the feelings of an individual are neither right nor wrong. They are real and need to be respected.
  7. In accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, the four guiding principles for the new relationship are “mutual recognition, mutual respect, sharing, and mutual responsibility.” (Interim Report, page 23)
  8. There is no cost to participants, only a common commitment to work toward achieving truth and reconciliation and equality of opportunity for Indigenous people of Canada.
*Circles for Reconciliation Inc. recognizes that all First Nations, Métis and Inuit people have their own cultural teachings that encompass the morals and values of conduct. On page 30 of “Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future.”, it states that The Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe—Respect, Courage, Love, Truth, Humility, Honesty, and Wisdom—served as the themes for the seven National Events, and ceremony and traditional observance played an important part in the National Events. It is recognized that there are many adaptions of the teachings. We encourage each circle to adapt the Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe to the needs of their circle.

After completing your registration form:

You will receive an email confirmation of your registration in your in-box very shortly – within minutes. If you do not get one, please email us back at info@circlesforreconciliation.ca and we will provide it. Sometimes, these emails will get trapped in spam filters.