In those years, through many conversations with Indigenous friends and Elders (for whose patience we are forever grateful), through much reading and pondering, through much trying and failing and trying again, we began to understand both the staggering beauty of Indigenous peoples and cultures, and the deep harm and trauma that many Indigenous people and communities struggle with and we began to see our own role in all of that.

We began to change our minds, and to change our ways. We began to use our voices to raise awareness. We began to get involved – clumsy and misguided at times, but slowly moving toward genuine friendship and partnership with Indigenous peoples. We began to experience real and lasting change in ourselves. Along the way, we fell in love: with the people, with their culture, with their humour, with their wisdom.