On Tuesday, May 20th at 7:00 PM, the Winkler Arts and Culture Centre will host a unique and meaningful event titled “Remember Who You Are: Stories of Indigenous Identity.” Organized by the Truth and Action Working Group and supported by Genesis House, this event promises more than a panel discussion—it will be a space for storytelling, reflection, and connection.
Bernie Janzen of the Truth and Action Working Group, elaborates, “It’s listed as a panel discussion, but it also will include an identity exercise. There is a Bear Paw Media film that will be presented, but the central focus will be stories of identity, Indigenous identity... there will be a question and answer at the end as well.”
Why this matters
Janzen explained the purpose behind the event, emphasizing that identity is something everyone wrestles with.
“I know that all of us work on issues of identity. We all are trying to figure out who we are, whether it be what country we're from, from what faith we're part of, family... One group in our community... are working on what it means to be Indigenous... those stories vary,” he said. “People have had to struggle with their identity... there [are] those people who have had great success because of the community supporting them in their search for identity.”
“We're not islands... We do it together. As a community and the family... the church group... the school... the work setting... they are moving together with the group that is maybe also learning about their own identity.” - Bernie Janzen
Janzen highlighted the dual purpose of the evening: “One is of course for us to learn education about those people who have worked through what it means to be Indigenous... and secondly, it's also for us to take what we can learn from their stories and their struggles and successes and apply it to our own world.”
A deeper connection for Genesis House
Ang Braun, Executive Director of Genesis House, spoke about why her organization is involved.
“You know the work of Genesis House is all about gender-based violence. But it's also about intersectoral violence, which often is connected to racism. And so, I think our agency is looking at wanting to move past land acknowledgements and what does reconciliation look like?” she said. “And the reality is that in my world, the Indigenous women are far more likely to be victimized by gender-based violence than anyone else, and so this was a great connection for us.”
Who’s telling the stories
The panel will feature four local voices.
Janzen shared, “The four of them will be relating different stories and different successes that they've had in working on their identity, and I think a real part of this evening besides education, will also be a celebration of where they are in their walk.”
Some panelists asked if they could share uplifting stories—a question Janzen welcomed.
“Well, I said that it creates a great balance because many people want to know the stories, they want to be uplifted... Yes, it's important to hear the hard stories... but also, you want to celebrate,” he said. “If you're working with them, at the end of it all, it becomes a happy story... those stories sometimes motivate us even more than the stories that are so harrowing.”
He added, “We're not islands... We do it together. As a community and the family... the church group... the school... the work setting... they are moving together with the group that is maybe also learning about their own identity.”
Related stories:
Learning together, especially for the youth
Janzen emphasized the importance of this event for youth and the people who walk alongside them.
“[The youth is] a group that is very vulnerable because they're searching,” he said. “Youth leaders, teachers, there are many people—parents, anybody who is working with youth... could definitely benefit from hearing stories.”
A space for community
While the evening will offer deep insights, it will also offer something simple yet comforting—refreshments.
Janzen added that community is at the heart of the experience. “When you come to these events... You look at who's beside you and who's around you and you realize, OK, maybe the questions I have aren't just mine... there's a group of people here who are also wanting to move forward in this way.”
He compared the event to the local Orange Shirt Day walk. “Yes, it's powerful to walk with a group of people... We are not alone.”
An invitation
As Janzen said, “We're all meant to be social people... we want to find our kind... if you come to an event like this, you see other people who are also working on things, who are concerned about things just like we are... We're not alone.”
“Remember Who You Are: Stories of Indigenous Identity” takes place on Tuesday, May 20th at 7:00 PM at Winkler Arts and Culture. The event is free to attend and open to everyone. It is an opportunity to reflect, to learn, and to stand alongside those sharing their stories.