NS GovLab and the Nova Scotia Network for Social Change (NSN4SC) acknowledge the systems we are working to change are broken systems founded on racism, inequity and oppression. We recognize the systems change we are seeking cannot be achieved without condemning and confronting racism, inequity, and oppression in all its forms.
We acknowledge the mistreatment, harm and impacts caused by systemic racism against Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), as both individuals and communities. We support the Black Lives Matter movement and condemn all forms of anti-Black racism. We recognize Canada’s long history of anti-Indigenous racism and we condemn racism against Indigenous peoples. We condemn the legacy of white supremacy and its generational impact of Black and Brown people here in Canada and around the globe.
Our work is endeavouring to be inclusive and respectful of all cultures. Our team has been actively identifying and examining our own complicity in systemic racism. We recognize the systemic racism within the social innovation sector. We are committed to increasing our actions to examine, identify and stop complicity in our own work and the work of the social innovation sector. We are actively embedding equity, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and decolonial principles in every aspect of our work. This is an ongoing process of unlearning and learning to guide our actions against racism and modern-day colonialization.
We will ensure the innovation and systems change work we do is founded on equity and inclusion. We will ensure we focus on stopping and alleviating harms from the current system on BIPOC individuals and communities. We recognize the importance of education and are dedicated to making racism and anti-racism education accessible.
We are committed to listening and hearing BIPOC voices leading the struggle against racism and will work with them to identify and combat systemic, institutionalized racism.
In solidarity,
NS GovLab and NSN4SC team
