Mutual Aid in Calgary
On Monday, January 31st the Anti-Racism and Decolonization Learning and Action Team organized CDLI’s first Meet Up of the year!
Mutual Aid is a form of political participation grounded in caring for one another. A few days ago Tyson wrote this piece highlighting some features of mutual aid.
To explore what mutual aid is looking like in Calgary these days, we brought on three knowledgeable and experienced guests who participate in and support mutual aid in a variety of ways in our cities. Michelle, Taylor, and Yvonne had such amazing insights, important truths, and calls to action that we should each be responding to.
Check out the recording below, and let us know what your most significant learning, favourite moment, or call to action is! And, if you’re able, please support a mutual aid effort in exchange for the gift of this conversation!
“We act as if changing things and doing better is hard and it’s not, it really is not.”
Roundtable Member Bios:
Michelle Robinson, Native Calgarian
Michelle Robinson or Red Thunder Woman is a ((sa-too-Dene-eh)) Sahtu Dene mother with a podcast called Native Calgarian. She also runs an Indigenous book club and is now a homeschool mother.
Taylor McNallie, Inclusive Canada
Taylor McNallie is the true definition of a serial entrepreneur - a brand developer, marketing strategist, public speaker, emcee, bad-ass music journalist and a civil rights activist - Taylor is an all-around power house.
Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Taylor moved to a small town in Alberta in 2001, where she had her first harsh experience with racism. She has been learning how to have tough conversations and addressing racism ever since. When the murder of George Floyd sparked worldwide unrest in 2020, creating the largest civil rights movement in history, Taylor co-created Inclusive Canada (previously known as RAAR - Rural Alberta Against Racism) to bring conversations regarding racism and anti-racism into rural communities across Alberta.
The organization, which consists of Black, brown and Indigenous women, focuses on providing an educational approach by offering anti-racism learning sessions for businesses, organizations, institutions and individuals who wish to commit themselves to being anti-racist and dismantling the oppressive systems that uphold harm to racialized, marginalized and vulnerable communities, globally.
Taylor’s perspective and commitment to bringing awareness and an end to systemic racism inspires her audiences to get involved and support local initiatives hands-on.
Yvonne Henderson, Bear Clan Patrol Calgary
Yvonne is one of the incredible people who makes Bear Clan Patrol Calgary possible as one of the lead organizers.
Bear Clan Patrol is a volunteer-run organization that emerged in response to a need to protect the women, children, eldery and vulnerable community members in Mohkinstsis. A few times a week they ‘patrol’ throughout Calgary to assist with anyone in need of basic necessities, including food, clothing, blankets, and other supports.
A key aspect of their philosophy is meeting people with zero judgment, and getting them to where they need to be for that moment.