A Saskatchewan appointee to an interim board for the National Council for Reconciliation says he is looking forward to the challenge.
The National Council for Reconciliation comes from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, which called on the development of an independent body to monitor reconciliation efforts.
The interim board was announced last month and will aim to pave the way for a permanent board in the future.
Max Fineday, a former USSU president, sits on the interim board. He says he is looking forward to ironing out the best policies and procedures for a permanent board for the organization.
“I am committed to making sure this board gets it right,” he said. “So that whoever is appointed to the permanent board can come in, in the strongest position to hold the country, the government and Canadians accountable, so we are making meaningful progress on reconciliation.”
Fineday admits, this mandate will come with several challenges, but he especially looks forward to bringing reconciliation to a community level.
“Each one of our communities, no matter how big or how small, has its part to play in reconciliation and this board can act as a guide or watchdog to make sure that’s happening,” he said.
Fineday currently serves as the co-executive director for the Canadian Roots Exchange, a charity devoted to engaging Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in reconciliation. Fineday is hoping he can bring this experience to the board table.
“We want young people voices, young people’s visions and the hopes of young people apart of this board and that it is responsive to the needs of young people going forward,” he said.
Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild, who is the former commissioner on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, will chair the interim board. The other appointees are Jean Teillet, Mike DeGagné, Clint Davis and Edith Cloutier.
(PHOTO: Max Fineday. Photo courtesy of Twitter @MaxFineDay.)