Where to begin?

George has told me this more than once: culturally, the most important thing you can do for someone navigating a hard time is to show up. Stand there. Be seen. You don't have to do anything more than that.

I think about that teaching constantly, especially when people ask me how to get more involved in this work. We tend to make it complicated in our heads, worrying about saying the wrong thing, not knowing enough, doing it right. George's answer cuts straight through all of that.

This week, with Indigenous Peoples Day landing this Sunday, June 21st, he wrote down what showing up can actually look like, in ways big and small.

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Over the last few months, Kim and I have been asked many times how our siiye'yu can get involved in this work. I genuinely appreciate when we receive this question, because it gives me a glimmer of hope. It helps me see a better future for our young people. It lets me know that there are people out there who truly care, not just about me, but about my people.

When I think about how people can get involved in this work, I recognize that it can look different for everyone. The first thing I always share with people is this: look inward. Ask yourself what kind of strength you carry within yourself, because being an ally can take a real toll on you, personally, and sometimes professionally.

I say that not to frighten anyone away from this path. I say it to bring awareness, because I believe you deserve to know what you might be stepping into. When you walk alongside Indigenous people in this work, you will likely hear hurtful and disgraceful things said about us. And sometimes, those things will come from people close to you, from family, from friends, from people you never expected. I have had to distance myself from friends because we carried such different views on Indigenous issues. I know people who have stepped away from family because of those same tensions. I have heard of people leaving jobs they loved because the company they worked for did not carry themselves in a good way, and it simply did not align with their personal values.

This work asks something of you. It is worth knowing that before you begin.

When people want to get more involved, they often look at someone like Kim and see the deep relationships she carries with Indigenous people and communities. I would never want to discourage anyone from working toward that kind of relationship, but I also want people to understand how much has gone into building it. Kim did not arrive at that place overnight. She built every single one of those relationships from the ground up. She put in the time. She put in the effort. She has also had the gift of doing this work from within a role that brings her directly into our communities, and she has had people walking beside her from within those communities to help guide her along the way. That kind of trust is earned over time, and it is something worth honouring.

So where do you start? I always encourage people to begin with the lower barrier ways to show up and learn.

You are already doing one of them right now. Reading this Teaching Tuesday email is itself an act of showing up. It is a small, accessible, and meaningful way to stay connected to Indigenous voices, stories, and perspectives. Another one I love to point people toward is my podcast, Culture is Healing, created through my work with CheckingIn. Both of these are easy places to begin. If you have family, friends, or colleagues who are wondering where to start, share these with them.

From there, I encourage you to show up in person at local events. One of those days is Red Dress Day, observed every year on May 5th, where communities gather to show love and support for our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People. You do not need to say a word. You can simply wear a red shirt and let your presence speak. That visibility matters more than you might know. Mark it in your calendar now so you are ready when it comes around again.

Coming up very soon is June 21st, Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to celebrate and honour Indigenous people and our incredible, living culture. This is a day where our people get to share songs and dances in ways our ancestors were once forbidden from doing. Coming out to celebrate with us is a beautiful act of solidarity.

And on September 30th, we observe Orange Shirt Day, a day to show love and support for Residential School and Day School Survivors. Wearing an orange shirt is a simple, non-verbal, and deeply meaningful way to stand with us.

One thing I ask when it comes to buying shirts for these occasions: please be thoughtful about where you purchase them. Make sure you are buying from reputable sources, from Indigenous-owned businesses or organizations with genuine ties to these causes, and not from someone using these days purely for profit.

I often think about these shirts the way I think about sports team jerseys. People wear their team's colours proudly, all year long. Some wear their home jersey, some wear the away jersey. For me, both the orange shirt and the red shirt are the home team’s jerseys. I wear them to honour my parents, my grandparents, my uncles, and my aunties. They are not just clothing. They are declarations of love.

If you are feeling called to go deeper and are not sure what that next step looks like, I want to tell you more about our work at Culturally Committed. Kim created this space with a clear and beautiful vision: to give non-Indigenous people the opportunity to be in genuine relationship with Indigenous people. It is a safe space to come, to ask questions, to listen, and to learn. Through our community calls, we bring together a rotating group of Indigenous mentors who share their teachings and their unique perspectives. We also host monthly workshops featuring brilliant Indigenous knowledge keepers who share how their work lives in the world and how they walk within it. These are not lectures. They are conversations. They are relationships in the making.

So here is a simple map of where you can begin:

Start with the path of least resistance: subscribe to Teaching Tuesday and tune in to the Culture is Healing Podcast. These are small steps that carry real meaning. When you are ready, come out and show up to our public events: Red Dress Day every May 5th, Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st, and Orange Shirt Day on September 30th. Find a local event, put on the home team's jersey, and let your presence be your voice. And if you are feeling called to go even further in your own learning journey, we would love to walk alongside you. If you have family, friends, or colleagues who are just beginning to find their footing on this path, please point them in our direction. We would be honoured to walk alongside them too. You can reach us at info@culturallycommitted.com

Huy ch q'u | Thank you

Wholwolet’za | George Harris Jr.

Thank you, George, for the reminder, more than once, that this doesn't have to be complicated to matter.

If you take only one thing from today, let it be this: Indigenous Peoples Day is this Sunday, June 21st. Find an event near you, wear your colours, and let your presence be the whole message.

And if you know someone who's still looking for a place to start, maybe this is the thing to send them.

Show up. Stand there. Be seen.

🧡 Kim