Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation: Progress and the Path Forward with Cadmus Delorme

As we reflect on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) and the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (October 4), it's crucial to face the uncomfortable truth: our country still has a long way to go. These days aren’t just dates on a calendar—they are calls to action for all of us to wake up and realize the systemic harm Indigenous communities continue to endure. Canada’s residential school legacy didn’t just cause trauma in the past; its impact still ripples through generations today. Imagine growing up in a world where your language, culture, and very identity were stripped from you as a child, and that was somehow considered “normal.” For far too many Indigenous families, this wasn’t just their past—it’s their present. We often think of these horrors as relics of history, but the reality is that Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people, especially, are still disproportionately victimized by violence, abuse, and systemic neglect. We’re talking genocide here. Still. In 2024. But amidst the frustration, we had the honour of speaking with Cadmus Delorme, former Chief of Cowessess First Nation and an incredible Indigenous leader and advocate for truth and reconciliation. His calm wisdom and clear passion for making meaningful progress were exactly the reminders we needed to stay focused on the work ahead. Cadmus shared with us his insights on why the implementation of the Calls to Action and Calls to Justice has been so slow and what concrete steps we can take to ensure these aren’t just words on paper. He spoke about the vital need for Indigenous voices to be at the forefront of decision-making processes because, as we were reminded, "Nothing for us, without us." He also shed light on the responsibility that media, influencers, and everyday citizens have in creating awareness and demanding accountability from those in power. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but even small steps lead to progress. As Jody Wilson-Raybould reminds us in her book, True Reconciliation, it’s on each of us to keep the momentum going. Educate. Advocate. Build relationships with Indigenous communities. Reconciliation isn’t a checkbox—it’s an ongoing, lifelong journey. We owe it to the generations of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who came before us—and the ones still fighting today—to make reconciliation more than just a word. Let’s make it an action. __ Follow us on Instagram @raiseherco and @scaries.podcast and on TikTok @raiseherco. For those eager to dive deeper, visit www.raiseherco.com/the-scaries/ for all the resources.