The International Order of The King’s Daughters and Sons (IOKDS) is an international, interdenominational organization of Christian men and women whose aim is to carry out religious, educational, and philanthropic projects in their communities. Members of the Order are organized across the United States and Canada by state/province as Branches, and locally in Unions and Circles.
The Indigenous Peoples Outreach Program Committee was established as an ad hoc committee in 2015 by the Ontario Branch of the International Order of The King’s Daughters and Sons (IOKDS). One of the first projects of this Committee was to set up a scholarship specifically to assist Indigenous students in Canada at the undergraduate level. The scholarship was named in honour of Christine Dawson who was the first Ontario Branch member to serve as International President of the “Order” from 2016-2020. The scholarship is awarded in conjunction with the Native American Scholarship Program of IOKDS which means that 50% of the funds come from Ontario Branch – specifically the “Christine Dawson Indigenous Scholarship” fund, and 50% of the funds come from the Native American Scholarship Program in the United States.
More recently, the Indigenous Peoples’ Outreach Program Committee has become involved in the review and update of the documentation (e.g. applications, procedures, etc.) related to the IOKDS scholarship programs of which there are four – Health Careers, Student Ministry, Native American (US) / Indigenous Peoples (Canada), and the Around the World. Now that the procedures have been updated, the Committee hopes to work on improving efforts to advertise the existence of these scholarships so that more students can benefit from the programs.
Director Indigenous Peoples
In recognition of the importance of the work that the Committee was doing, the position of Director of Indigenous Peoples was established as an elected position on the Executive of the Ontario Branch, and Bev Elias was elected to this new position at the Biennial Convention in April 2021.
Present Day into Future:
The Ontario Branch Indigenous Peoples Outreach Program Committee is comprised of a group of roughly five members all seeking to find ways to support Indigenous Peoples in Canada. They will start by listening to their stories, and sharing those stories using various forms of communication, for example, via the Ontario Branch website or by holding in-person meetings with Ontario Branch Circle members. In addition, the Committee hopes to find ways to support Indigenous Peoples with their present and future needs.
Members of the Outreach Program also plan to study the reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (https://nctr.ca/records/reports/#trc-reports) and the recommendations made in those reports so that they can share information with Ontario Branch members about the magnitude of the past injustices suffered by Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Ontario Branch members will be encouraged to listen to the stories in order to better understand the history, culture and traditions of Indigenous Peoples. Then by sharing what they have learned with the IOKDS community, the Outreach Committee hopes to find ways to contribute time and resources to helping those in need.
Committee members, on behalf of Ontario Branch, hope to build both professional and personal ties with members of the Indigenous Peoples communities. They welcome developing true friendships, but realize that trust must be built first, and therefore commit to approach all Indigenous Peoples with trust, love, and respect in all they do together. To further strengthen these bonds, Committee members hope that in the near future, they may ask permission to visit various Indigenous communities in order to meet in person with Chiefs and Elders and community developers to learn about ways in which they might become more actively involved.
They will also ask to be advised of any future events that are planned and open to the public so that they may share that information with others who may wish to attend or participate.
In addition, Committee members will invite Indigenous Peoples to share their stories with others in the organization, to contribute artwork for posting on the newly redesigned Ontario Branch website, and to share lists of Indigenous businesses across Canada that our members could support.
Books/Articles read by various members:
- Truth and Reconciliation Committee 99 Recommendations
- Flint and Feather, by E. Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake)
- The Grieving Indian, by Arthur H., with George McPeek
- Tyendinaga Tales, collected and introduced by Rona Rustige
- Canada’s First Nations, by Olive Patricia Dickason
- Why Indigenous Literatures Matter, by Daniel Heath Justice, IOKDS Literacy Chapter, Book Review – January 2022, led by Indigenous Outreach Director
Events/podcasts attended by various members:
- Vigil for the 215 children found in BC, held by Religious Community of Ottawa, in Ottawa
- Swearing in ceremony of Rose Anne Archibald, National Chief AFN
- Canada Day Indigenous Walk to Parliament
- NAC Indigenous Theatre Introduction of new Theatre dedicated to Indigenous stories, artists, and creators, Zoom Meeting with NAC CEO and Indigenous Theatre Creators.
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, CBC coverage and AFN Facebook
- Swearing in Ceremony, of Governor General Mary Simon
- Indigenous Veterans Day, Remembrance Day
- Osgoode Books, Zoom Interview with Lynn Gehl on her latest book, an account of: Gehl VS Canada, Struggles with Colonial Crown Identity
Indigenous Success Stories
- Google Translate: presently being petitioned to have Cree language translation.
- 7 ELMNT FM Ottawa, FN Radio Station showcases Indigenous music and culture.
- APTN Television: FN television, programming from news to dramas, and movies, many of Indigenous content, written, produced, and uses Indigenous actors.
- Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc., (TSH): tshiuetin.net: The first of First Nations owned and run railways in all of North America. The track, cars, and stations are owned and operated by three different Indigenous peoples.
- First Nations Training Institute, (FNTI) for pilots, since 1990 recruitment@IFNTI.net
- Indigenous flight school is taught at secondary school in Tyendinaga, Mohawk Territory, east of Belleville, ON. The school is owned, governed, and operated by Indigenous peoples.
- National Indigenous Culture Theatre, sponsored by National Arts Centre, and online 2021, in NAC as pandemic restrictions are lifted.
- The Mohawk School is a learning institution that teaches in Indigenous style, including the outdoors, and their extensive environmental knowledge, etc. They are affiliated with the FNTI program, mentioned above.