'There's people who want to know our history': grassroots reconciliation circles growing

Clayton Sandy believes new provincial funding can helpbust the myths somenon-Indigenous people hold about his culture.

He remembers joining a small sharing circle at a St. Vital church, where he was taken aback by both the misconceptions some individualsheld ofIndigenous people, but also their sincere desire to learn more.

"Alot of peoplestill don't know our history, but there'speoplewho want to know our history," said Sandy, a member ofSioux Valley Dakota Nation.

On Thursday, the provincial government invested $25,000 to support that project, called Circles of Reconciliation.

It's the brainchild of Raymond Currie, who co-ordinates the program. In conversations led by facilitators, five Indigenous and five non-Indigenous peoplemeet todiscussthe meaning of land toIndigenous people, residential schools, intergenerational trauma and the Sixties Scoop.

In just two years, they've hosted 430 circle meetings and it's expanded nationwide.

"This project, in its simplicity, has the possibility to really help people," Currie said.

In fact, Eileen Clarke, the minister ofIndigenous and northern relations, wants to start a Circle of Reconciliation within government. She says a number of her colleagues have talked about joining.

"It's certainly important that we get on board and experience this."

Currie says he's tried tofosterrelationships between cultures since he adopteda First Nations son and a Mtis daughter in the late 1970s.

Currie remembers not feeling welcome at Indigenous events, but says through discourse he better understands how events like the Sixties Scooprobbed Indigenous people of their culture.

He helpeddevelop the department of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba when he was the dean of arts in the 1990s.

Today, he says, "people are really thirsty for reconciliation."

Currie said the provincial funding would help them train more circle facilitators and improve their program resources.