Update on CRE and Accountability

Letter to the Community from CRE

August 20, 2020

We are providing this update as a follow-up to last month’s statement from our Board of Directors.

Your patience while we process all that has taken place has provided the necessary space to proceed thoughtfully and intentionally. While this work is ongoing, we are providing a brief update in order to keep our communities informed. 

We know that feedback is essential to ensuring that CRE is responsive to community concerns and is able to both grow and respond to the needs of the communities we serve, support, and represent. Please visit the Accountability webpage to be connected with the CRE team, and for those of you who wish to share anonymous or confidential experiences of your time with CRE, you can also reach out to accountability@canadianroots.ca, which is currently being monitored exclusively by CRE’s Board of  Directors and external legal counsel: OKT.

We are also glad to share that we have been developing an accountability process and will be re-launching our community accountability advisory group in the near future. The mandate for this group that will be community-informed and re-built from the ground up. As a national organization, we recognize the diversity and strength of the communities and Nations we work alongside. We commit to keeping both the community and the public informed as we move carefully but swiftly through this process to ensure our work is done in a good way. 

As of August 10, 2020, the Board of Directors asked Hillory Tenute (she/her/elle) to serve as Interim Executive Director of Canadian Roots Exchange. Hillory is a member from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation with settler descent living on Algonquin unceded territory. She has more than 10 years of facilitation, research, policy analysis and evaluation experience working with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. As a proud Anishinaabekwe, Hillory places her teachings on relationships, reciprocity, respect and community above all else. These teachings are integrated in her interpersonal relationships, work ethic and overall well being. 

Since I was young, I was always reminded to stand up as if there are 1000 Ancestors behind you. So that’s what we’re going to do, as community members and as an organization, we’re going to rise up. I recognize this path will be bumpy as growth and humility are imminent to transformation. Where we collectively go from here will be guided by our teachings of love, respect and reciprocity. Our path will be grounded by our relationships that are shaped by the strength of community and resiliency. We will hold one another accountable in response to truth and justice as we continue to pave the way for the next seven generations. That has been and will always remain to be part of our journey. Nii’kinaaganaa.

Interim Executive Auntie
Hillory Tenute

Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we work to build a stronger organization and continue to do work that matters with you. We look forward to keeping our communities and Nations informed as our work continues.

On Behalf of the CRE team