Orange Shirt Day is drawing near, which means many Manitoba businesses are gearing up to commemorate the day — including a business in Winnipeg, whose owner comes from Scotland. He says he’s realized how important Truth and Reconciliation is since moving to Canada. “It’s not a choice,” explained Mark Turner, owner of the Amsterdam Tea Room.
“It’s just my responsibility to do that as a business owner and a human being.” “As a recent settler, like a white, European settler and a steward of a business that is on Treaty 1 territory, I feel like I could do more,” said Turner. “My staff also echoed that sentiment.
They were like, ‘We could do more. What can we do?” In his ongoing journey to learn about Canada’s history, Turner says he wanted to work in collaboration with people in the community, towards Truth and Reconciliation. He turned to friends for help.
“They gave me some good advice,” he explained. “It was during that period, we were doing some Instagram work and Christine’s pins popped up on our feed.” “Our collaboration, in my mind,” said Christine Brouzes, Métis artist and advocate.
“Is reconciliation coming to life.” Brouzes is a multidisciplinary artist, who has also done bead work — and through her handmade pins, is working to share the story of Indigenous people in Canada. “I love the idea that somebody is wearing a tiny Orange Shirt pin, and somebody else will say to them, what is that all about?” said Brouzes.
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