Truth and Reconciliation

Trigger warning: Readers may be triggered by the recount of Indian Residential Schools. To access a 24-hour National Crisis Line, call: 1-866-925-4419. Community Assistance Program (CAP) can be accessed by Anishinabek Nation member first nation citizens: 1-800-663-1142.

 

Truth and Reconciliation

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) issued its Final Report in 2015. The report investigated the impact that the Indian Residential School system had on Indigenous people in Canada. The report identified
the shortcomings, inherent paternalism, and colonial tendencies that were ingrained in the philosophy and
administration of these schools.The TRC report developed 94 Calls to Action aimed towards reconciliation.

There are several themes throughout the Calls to Action. Among the main points are the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP); the full Implementation of Jordan’s Principle; adequate program funding as compared to the rest of Canada; developing a true Nation-to-Nation
relationship; church apologies; identification of missing Children; education; and, commemoration. The full report can be viewed here:

https://nctr.ca/records/reports/#trc-reports

The 94 Calls to Action, as listed in the TRC Final Report, fall under the following categories:

Legal

  • Child Welfare
    (1-5)

  • Education
    (6-12)

  • Language and Culture
    (13-17)

  • Health
    (18-24)

  • Justice
    (25-42)

Reconciliation

 

Reconciliation

  • Canadian Governments and the UNDRIP (43-44)
  • Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation (45-47)
  • Settlement Agreement Parties and the UNDRIP (48-49)
  • Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System (50-52)
  • National Council for Reconciliation (53-56)
  • Professional Development and Training for Public Servants (57)
  • Church Apologies and Reconciliation (58-61)
  • Education for Reconciliation (62-65)
  • Youth Programs (66)
  • Museums and Archives (67-70)
  • Missing Children and Burial Information (71-76)
  • National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (77-78)
  • Commemoration (79-83)
  • Media and Reconciliation (84-86)
  • Sports and Reconciliation (87-91)
  • Business and Reconciliation (92)
  • Newcomers to Canada (93-94)

Several news outlets have been tracking the progress of Canada’s fulfillment of the Calls to Action. The links below provide insight to the progress made to date:

https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform-single/beyond-94?&cta=1

https://yellowheadinstitute.org/trc/

https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/trc/

https://nationalpost.com/news/much-work-remains-on-the-truth-and-reconciliation-commissions-94-calls-to-action

https://albertaworker.ca/2022/01/04/canada-completed-3-of-trcs-94-calls-to-action-in-2021/chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?
pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afn.ca%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F12%2F2020_TRC-Report-Card_ENG.pdf