Tuesday, July 27, 2021

A Next Step in Truth and Reconciliation

Author, Omar El Akkad, gets it right when he asserts that the "privilege of temporary outrage" is a root problem in the world today. In an interview about his book, What a Strange Paradise, El Akkad describes his personal awakening to this moral failure by many advantaged members of society to sustain the care needed for those who suffer disproportionately. When speaking about a ship filled with migrants that sunk in the Mediterranean Sea on its way to Europe, he is quoted as saying, "Almost within 24 hours, all the outrage subsided and everybody moved on and everyone stopped caring." (Eric Volmers, "Dueling Fantasies: novel uses a fable-like construct to dismantle false narratives about different cultures", Ottawa Citizen, July 24, 2021.) In my own Ph.D. thesis, I wrote about the moral paralysis that many feel when faced with the past and present impacts of the historical violence and harm that European settlers inflicted upon Indigenous peoples in Canada. We cannot fall again into the privilege of temporary outrage or shrink in moral paralysis. But, we often do not know what to do with the new information of historical truths we now possess, so we tend to tuck it in the back of our minds and resettle into our comfort zones. 

Our Challenge as Settler Peoples

In the face of the tragic findings of the unmarked graves of Indigenous children who attended residential schools in Canada, most are absolutely horrified at the realities suffered by Indigenous children at the hands of government and Church authorities. Finally, something has pushed Canadians to listen and to become familiar with the 94 Calls in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. The big challenge now is to keep going, not slip into the privilege of temporary outrage or moral paralysis. Our responsibility is to keep taking a next step on our life-long journey of learning more about the historical truths that created our country and to which we were previously blinded. Truth is imperative before we can even think about reconciliation. 

A Next Step

At the suggestion of many Indigenous peoples in Canada, a next step for Settler Canadians is to learn about Indigenous perspectives. One way to start is to read literature written by Indigenous authors, or watch an educational video or movie. It is summertime in Canada, often a good time to spend time in these activities. Below are some recommendations, based on my own favourite authors. 

  • Richard Wagamese, Indian Horse (2012), also on Netflix
  • Richard Wagamese, Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations (2013)
  • Thomas King, The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America     (2012)
  • Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the    Teachings of Plants (2015) or watch her teach about The Honorable Harvest on YouTube, (3:31    minutes).
  • Michelle Good, Five Little Indians (2020)
You are invited to come back to this blog after the summer months in the northern hemisphere to continue the journey together from truth to reconciliation. The next problem we will awaken ourselves to is that of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in Canada. 








Monday, July 26, 2021

Newcomers to Canada - TRC Calls to Action 93-94

                                                    A History of Treaty-Making in Canada

To understand ourselves as treaty people is foreign to the self-identity of most Canadians who live in treaty territories. But, the truth is that that is what many of us are - treaty people. Those Canadians who do not live in treaty territories are living on unceded Indigenous land. 

One example of an initiative to educate newcomers to the treaty reality in Canada takes place in Calgary, Indigenous Education for Newcomers.

Newcomers to Canada

93. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with the national Aboriginal organizations, to revise the information kit for newcomers to Canada and its citizenship test to reflect a more inclusive history of the diverse Aboriginal peoples of Canada, including information about the Treaties and the history of residential schools.

94. We call upon the Government of Canada to replace the Oath of Citizenship with the following: I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada including Treaties with Indigenous Peoples, and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Business and Reconciliation - TRC Call to Action 92

                                                       
                                               Discover and support Indigenous Innovation 

Business and Reconciliation

92. We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:

i. Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects.

ii. Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.

iii. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Sports and Reconciliation - TRC Calls to Action 87-91

The Federal Government set aside funding for Indigenous athletes, physical activity and programs during the first years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. However, has this commitment has been sustained?

Sports and Reconciliation

87. We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.

88. We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorial team preparation and travel.

89. We call upon the federal government to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act to support reconciliation by ensuring that policies to promote physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport, and build capacity in the Canadian sport system, are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples.

90. We call upon the federal government to ensure that national sports policies, programs, and initiatives are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples, including, but not limited to, establishing:

i. In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, stable funding for, and access to, community sports programs that reflect the diverse cultures and traditional sporting activities of Aboriginal peoples.

ii. An elite athlete development program for Aboriginal athletes.

iii. Programs for coaches, trainers, and sports officials that are culturally relevant for Aboriginal peoples.

iv. Anti-racism awareness and training programs.

91. We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the Olympics, Pan Am, and Commonwealth games to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events.

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Media and Reconciliation - TRC Calls to Action 84-86


Media and Reconciliation

The website at the link above is an archived website and a little outdated, but there are some good articles, resources and links. 

84. We call upon the federal government to restore and increase funding to the CBC/Radio-Canada, to enable Canada’s national public broadcaster to support reconciliation, and be properly reflective of the diverse cultures, languages, and perspectives of Aboriginal peoples, including, but not limited to:

i. Increasing Aboriginal programming, including Aboriginal-language speakers.

ii. Increasing equitable access for Aboriginal peoples to jobs, leadership positions, and professional development opportunities within the organization.

iii. Continuing to provide dedicated news coverage and online public information resources on issues of concern to Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians, including the history and legacy of residential schools and the reconciliation process.

85. We call upon the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, as an independent non-profit broadcaster with programming by, for, and about Aboriginal peoples, to support reconciliation, including but not limited to:

i. Continuing to provide leadership in programming and organizational culture that reflects the diverse cultures, languages, and perspectives of Aboriginal peoples.

ii. Continuing to develop media initiatives that inform and educate the Canadian public, and connect Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

86. We call upon Canadian journalism programs and media schools to require education for all students on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal– Crown relations.

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Commemoration - TRC Calls to Action 79-83

Telling More Than One Side

Click on the link above to have a listen to what its like to understand historical truth from more than one perspective. 

Commemoration

79. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal organizations, and the arts community, to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. This would include, but not be limited to:

 i. Amending the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis         representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and its Secretariat.

ii. Revising the policies, criteria, and practices of the National Program of Historical Commemoration to integrate Indigenous history, heritage values, and memory practices into Canada’s national heritage and history.

iii. Developing and implementing a national heritage plan and strategy for commemorating residential school sites, the history and legacy of residential schools, and the contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canada’s history.

80. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

81. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors and their organizations, and other parties to the Settlement Agreement, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools National Monument in the city of Ottawa to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.

82. We call upon provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with Survivors and their organizations, and other parties to the Settlement Agreement, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools Monument in each capital city to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.

83. We call upon the Canada Council for the Arts to establish, as a funding priority, a strategy for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to undertake collaborative projects and produce works that contribute to the reconciliation process.

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation - TRC Calls to Action 77-78





National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

77. We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal, and community archives to work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to identify and collect copies of all records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system, and to provide these to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

78. We call upon the Government of Canada to commit to making a funding contribution of $10 million over seven years to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, plus an additional amount to assist communities to research and produce histories of their own residential school experience and their involvement in truth, healing, and reconciliation.



Thursday, July 15, 2021

Missing Children and Burial Information - TRC Calls to Action 71-76


So far, well over 1000 unmarked graves have been discovered. This should not be news to us. Families knew. Survivors knew. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Calls 71-76 already alerted all Canadians to the reality of the deaths of children in residential schools and the unmarked graves that are now being revealed. Let us do better and heed these calls in full now. 

71. We call upon all chief coroners and provincial vital statistics agencies that have not provided to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada their records on the deaths of Aboriginal children in the care of residential school authorities to make these documents available to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

72. We call upon the federal government to allocate sufficient resources to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to allow it to develop and maintain the National Residential School Student Death Register established by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

73. We call upon the federal government to work with churches, Aboriginal communities, and former residential school students to establish and maintain an online registry of residential school cemeteries, including, where possible, plot maps showing the location of deceased residential school children.

74. We call upon the federal government to work with the churches and Aboriginal community leaders to inform the families of children who died at residential schools of the child’s burial location, and to respond to families’ wishes for appropriate commemoration ceremonies and markers, and reburial in home communities where requested.

75. We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential school students, and current landowners to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children.

76. We call upon the parties engaged in the work of documenting, maintaining, commemorating, and protecting residential school cemeteries to adopt strategies in accordance with the following principles:

    i. The Aboriginal community most affected shall lead the development of such strategies.

    ii. Information shall be sought from residential school Survivors and other Knowledge Keepers in the development of such strategies.

    iii. Aboriginal protocols shall be respected before any potentially invasive technical inspection and investigation of a cemetery site.

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Museums and Archives - TRC Calls to Action 67-70

Regarding Residential School archives, the  NCTR - National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is mandated to be the national repository of all relevant records from organizations that ran Residential Schools. 

67. We call upon the federal government to provide funding to the Canadian Museums Association to undertake, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, a national review of museum policies and best practices to determine the level of compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to make recommendations.

68. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, and the Canadian Museums Association to mark the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 2017 by establishing a dedicated national funding program for commemoration projects on the theme of reconciliation.

69. We call upon Library and Archives Canada to:

    i. Fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher Principles, as related to Aboriginal peoples’ inalienable right to know the truth about what happened and why, with regard to human rights violations committed against them in the residential schools.

    ii. Ensure that its record holdings related to residential schools are accessible to the public.

    iii. Commit more resources to its public education materials and programming on residential schools.

70. We call upon the federal government to provide funding to the Canadian Association of Archivists to undertake, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, a national review of archival policies and best practices to:

    i. Determine the level of compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher Principles, as related to Aboriginal peoples’ inalienable right to know the truth about what happened and why, with regard to human rights violations committed against them in the residential schools.

    ii. Produce a report with recommendations for full implementation of these international mechanisms as a reconciliation framework for Canadian archives.

Monday, July 12, 2021

Youth Programs - TRC Call to Action 66

 


Youth Programs

66. We call upon the federal government to establish multiyear funding for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation, and establish a national network to share information and best practices.

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Education for reconciliation - TRC Calls 62-65

Education for reconciliation

62. We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in consultation and collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal peoples, and educators, to:

        i. Make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’                 historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for                 Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students.

        ii. Provide the necessary funding to post-secondary institutions to educate teachers on how to             integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms.

        iii. Provide the necessary funding to Aboriginal schools to utilize Indigenous knowledge and             teaching methods in classrooms.

        iv. Establish senior-level positions in government at the assistant deputy minister level or higher         dedicated to Aboriginal content in education.

63. We call upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to maintain an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including:

        i. Developing and implementing Kindergarten to Grade Twelve curriculum and learning resources         on Aboriginal peoples in Canadian history, and the history and legacy of residential schools.

        ii. Sharing information and best practices on teaching curriculum related to residential schools and         Aboriginal history.

        iii. Building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect.

        iv. Identifying teacher-training needs relating to the above.

64. We call upon all levels of government that provide public funds to denominational schools to require such schools to provide an education on comparative religious studies, which must include a segment on Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders.

65. We call upon the federal government, through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, post-secondary institutions and educators, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and its partner institutions, to establish a national research program with multi-year funding to advance understanding of reconciliation.

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Church Apologies and Reconciliation - TRC Calls to Action 58-61

Residential School Apology & Sunday Homily June 27, 2021

The Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Anglican and United Church of Canada were involved in operating residential schools. All the churches, except the Roman Catholic Church have apologized at an institutional level. While, many Roman Catholic religious congregations and RC Dioceses have issued sincere apologies, neither the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, nor the Head of the Roman Catholic Church has issued a formal apology on behalf of the institution. The hierarchical branch of the Roman Catholic Church rationalizes this by strict adherence, in this particular situation, to its decentralized structure. For the RC Church to issue a formal apology from the hierarchy is an important step in reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, many of whom are baptized Catholics. The video above represents the opinion of many Catholics in Canada. 

Church Apologies and Reconciliation

58. We call upon the Pope to issue an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Catholic-run residential schools. We call for that apology to be similar to the 2010 apology issued to Irish victims of abuse and to occur within one year of the issuing of this Report and to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.

59. We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary.

60. We call upon leaders of the church parties to the Settlement Agreement and all other faiths, in collaboration with Indigenous spiritual leaders, Survivors, schools of theology, seminaries, and other religious training centres, to develop and teach curriculum for all student clergy, and all clergy and staff who work in Aboriginal communities, on the need to respect Indigenous spirituality in its own right, the history and legacy of residential schools and the roles of the church parties in that system, the history and legacy of religious conflict in Aboriginal families and communities, and the responsibility that churches have to mitigate such conflicts and prevent spiritual violence.

61. We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement, in collaboration with Survivors and representatives of Aboriginal organizations, to establish permanent funding to Aboriginal people for:

    i. Community-controlled healing and reconciliation projects.

    ii. Community-controlled culture- and language revitalization projects.

    iii. Community-controlled education and relationship building projects.

    iv. Regional dialogues for Indigenous spiritual leaders and youth to discuss Indigenous spirituality,         self determination, and reconciliation.

Friday, July 9, 2021

Professional Development and Training for Public Servants - TRC Call to Action 57

A free course called Indigenous Canada is offered to all. Register at https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada?action=enroll

The TRC Call to Action 57 calls upon employers to require professionals to be trained in skills for intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. This training does not replace the need for hiring equity for Indigenous persons. 

Professional Development and Training for Public Servants

57. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Thursday, July 8, 2021

National Council for Reconciliation - TRC Calls to Action 53-56


Learn how the Government of Canada is responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action 53 to 56. Indigenous Peoples and Canadians are still waiting for the establishment of a National Council for Reconciliation. Initial and interim efforts were made, but the link above to the Government of Canada's response indicates that we are still waiting for legislation and the appointment of an independent oversight body. 

National Council for Reconciliation

53. We call upon the Parliament of Canada, in consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to enact legislation to establish a National Council for Reconciliation. The legislation would establish the council as an independent, national, oversight body with membership jointly appointed by the Government of Canada and national Aboriginal organizations, and consisting of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members. Its mandate would include, but not be limited to, the following:

    i. Monitor, evaluate, and report annually to Parliament and the people of Canada on the Government of Canada’s post-apology progress on reconciliation to ensure that government accountability for reconciling the relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Crown is maintained in the coming years.

    ii. Monitor, evaluate, and report to Parliament and the people of Canada on reconciliation progress across all levels and sectors of Canadian society, including the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.

    iii. Develop and implement a multi-year National Action Plan for Reconciliation, which includes research and policy development, public education programs, and resources.

    iv. Promote public dialogue, public/private partnerships, and public initiatives for reconciliation.

54. We call upon the Government of Canada to provide multi-year funding for the National Council for Reconciliation to ensure that it has the financial, human, and technical resources required to conduct its work, including the endowment of a National Reconciliation Trust to advance the cause of reconciliation.

55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to:

    i. The number of Aboriginal children—including Métis and Inuit children—in care, compared with non- Aboriginal children, the reasons for apprehension, and the total spending on preventive and care services by child-welfare agencies.

    ii. Comparative funding for the education of First Nations children on and off reserves.

    iii. The educational and income attainments of Aboriginal peoples in Canada compared with non-Aboriginal people.

    iv. Progress on closing the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.

    v. Progress on eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in youth custody over the next decade.

    vi. Progress on reducing the rate of criminal victimization of Aboriginal people, including data related to homicide and family violence victimization and other crimes.

    vii. Progress on reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice and correctional systems.

56. We call upon the prime minister of Canada to formally respond to the report of the National Council for Reconciliation by issuing an annual “State of Aboriginal Peoples” report, which would outline the government’s plans for advancing the cause of reconciliation.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System - Calls to Action 50-52

TRC Calls to Action 50-52 demand that the Government of Canada establish equity for Indigenous Peoples in the Legal System. The Government of Canada is called upon to: collaborate with Indigenous peoples; implement its fiduciary responsibility toward Indigenous peoples; understand the legal systems of Indigenous peoples; be transparent with its policies; recognize and take responsibility as a Treaty partner, and respect and abide by the land claims that have been legally proven. 

Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System

50. In keeping with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal organizations, to fund the establishment of Indigenous law institutes for the development, use, and understanding of Indigenous laws and access to justice in accordance with the unique cultures of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

51. We call upon the Government of Canada, as an obligation of its fiduciary responsibility, to develop a policy of transparency by publishing legal opinions it develops and upon which it acts or intends to act, in regard to the scope and extent of Aboriginal and Treaty rights.

52. We call upon the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and the courts to adopt the following legal principles:

    i. Aboriginal title claims are accepted once the Aboriginal claimant has established occupation over a particular territory at a particular point in time.

    ii. Once Aboriginal title has been established, the burden of proving any limitation on any rights arising from the existence of that title shifts to the party asserting such a limitation.

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Settlement Agreement Parties and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - TRC Calls 48-49

We read about two more Calls to Action, this time 48-49, directed specifically at the church parties to the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. This time, the churches are called upon to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a rights-based framework for reconciliation, and to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius. Since respect for human dignity is a fundamental value in the Gospel and in Catholic Social Teaching, these Calls to Action demand that the churches and their members be consistent in practice. 

Settlement Agreement Parties and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples                   

48. We call upon the church parties to the Settlement Agreement, and all other faith groups and interfaith social justice groups in Canada who have not already done so, to formally adopt and comply with the principles, norms, and standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for reconciliation. This would include, but not be limited to, the following commitments:

    i. Ensuring that their institutions, policies, programs, and practices comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    ii. Respecting Indigenous peoples’ right to self determination in spiritual matters, including the right to practise, develop, and teach their own spiritual and religious traditions, customs, and ceremonies, consistent with Article 12:1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    iii. Engaging in ongoing public dialogue and actions to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    iv. Issuing a statement no later than March 31, 2016, from all religious denominations and faith groups, as to how they will implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

49. We call upon all religious denominations and faith groups who have not already done so to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius. 

Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation - TRC Calls 45-47


Continuing our journey of awareness as Canadians about the document, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Today we read the Report's Calls to Action 45-47, which relate to the development of a Royal Proclamation of Reconciliation by the Crown and Indigenous Nations. This is a call to Canada's government to remember that the original relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Crown, referred to in the Royal Proclamation of 1763, is nation-to-nation. This is a further reminder to the Canadian Government that the Queen continues to be the Head of State and that there has never been a mutually agreed-upon dissolution of the original nation-to-nation agreement between the original parties. This offers hope for the creation of jointly-built Royal Proclamation of Reconciliation. 

Calls 45-47 call upon the Canadian government and the religious groups who were parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius. These proclamations promoted free reign for European domination over the non-Christian Indigenous nations and permission to steal their lands. 

Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation 

45. We call upon the Government of Canada, on behalf of all Canadians, to jointly develop with Aboriginal peoples a Royal Proclamation of Reconciliation to be issued by the Crown. The proclamation would build on the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the Treaty of Niagara of 1764, and reaffirm the nation-to-nation relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Crown. The proclamation would include, but not be limited to, the following commitments: 

    i. Repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius. 

    ii. Adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation. 

    iii. Renew or establish Treaty relationships based on principles of mutual recognition, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for maintaining those relationships into the future. 

    iv. Reconcile Aboriginal and Crown constitutional and legal orders to ensure that Aboriginal peoples are full partners in Confederation, including the recognition and integration of Indigenous laws and legal traditions in negotiation and implementation processes involving Treaties, land claims, and other constructive agreements. 

46. We call upon the parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to develop and sign a Covenant of Reconciliation that would identify principles for working collaboratively to advance reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would include, but not be limited to: 

    i. Reaffirmation of the parties’ commitment to reconciliation. 

    ii. Repudiation of concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and the reformation of laws, governance structures, and policies within their respective institutions that continue to rely on such concepts. 

    iii. Full adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation. 

    iv. Support for the renewal or establishment of Treaty relationships based on principles of mutual recognition, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for maintaining those relationships into the future. 

    v. Enabling those excluded from the Settlement Agreement to sign onto the Covenant of Reconciliation. 

    vi. Enabling additional parties to sign onto the Covenant of Reconciliation. 

47. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Canada and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP)

RECONCILIATION

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is a legally non-binding resolution that was passed by the United Nations in 2007.  Along with the US, New Zealand, and Australia, Canada did not endorse the Declaration. Canada did sign on in 2016. On June 21, 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent and immediately came into force. This is a key step in renewing the Government of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples. However, we need to hold our government officials accountable to this and demand that this legislation be implemented. 

TRC Calls 42-43 concern Canada and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Canadian Governments and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 

43) We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation. 

44) We call upon the Government of Canada to develop a national action plan, strategies, and other concrete measures to achieve the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

Saturday, July 3, 2021

TRC Calls to Action on JUSTICE

For the past week, I have been posting to raise awareness among Canadians on the report, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Today we read the Report's Calls to Action 25-42, which relate to the transformation of Canada's federal and provincial justice systems that continue to ignore and disadvantage Indigenous Peoples in Canada. 

Justice 

25) We call upon the federal government to establish a written policy that reaffirms the independence of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate crimes in which the government has its own interest as a potential or real party in civil litigation. 

26) We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to review and amend their respective statutes of limitations to ensure that they conform with the principle that governments and other entities cannot rely on limitation defences to defend legal actions of historical abuse brought by Aboriginal people. 

27) We call upon the Federation of Law Societies of Canada to ensure that lawyers receive appropriate cultural competency training, which includes the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. 

28) We call upon law schools in Canada to require all law students to take a course in Aboriginal people and the law, which includes the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. 

29) We call upon the parties and, in particular, the federal government, to work collaboratively with plaintiffs not included in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to have disputed legal issues determined expeditiously on an agreed set of facts. 

30) We call upon federal, provincial, and territorial governments to commit to eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody over the next decade, and to issue detailed annual reports that monitor and evaluate progress in doing so. 

31) We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to provide sufficient and stable funding to implement and evaluate community sanctions that will provide realistic alternatives to imprisonment for Aboriginal offenders and respond to the underlying causes of offending. 

32) We call upon the federal government to amend the Criminal Code to allow trial judges, upon giving reasons, to depart from mandatory minimum sentences and restrictions on the use of conditional sentences. 

33) We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to recognize as a high priority the need to address and prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (fasd), and to develop, in collaboration with Aboriginal people, fasd preventive programs that can be delivered in a culturally appropriate manner. 

34) We call upon the governments of Canada, the provinces, and territories to undertake reforms to the criminal justice system to better address the needs of offenders with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (fasd), including: 

        i. Providing increased community resources and powers for courts to ensure that fasd is properly diagnosed, and that appropriate community supports are in place for those with fasd. 

        ii. Enacting statutory exemptions from mandatory minimum sentences of imprisonment for offenders affected by fasd. 

        iii. Providing community, correctional, and parole resources to maximize the ability of people with fasd to live in the community. iv. Adopting appropriate evaluation mechanisms to measure the effectiveness of such programs and ensure community safety. 

35) We call upon the federal government to eliminate barriers to the creation of additional Aboriginal healing lodges within the federal correctional system. 

36) We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work with Aboriginal communities to provide culturally relevant services to inmates on issues such as substance abuse, family and domestic violence, and overcoming the experience of having been sexually abused. 

37) We call upon the federal government to provide more supports for Aboriginal programming in halfway houses and parole services. 

38) We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to commit to eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in custody over the next decade. 

39) We call upon the federal government to develop a national plan to collect and publish data on the criminal victimization of Aboriginal people, including data related to homicide and family violence victimization. 

40) We call on all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal people, to create adequately funded and accessible Aboriginal-specific victim programs and services with appropriate evaluation mechanisms. 

41) We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal organizations, to appoint a public inquiry into the causes of, and remedies for, the disproportionate victimization of Aboriginal women and girls. The inquiry’s mandate would include: 

        i. Investigation into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.

        ii. Links to the intergenerational legacy of residential schools. 

42) We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to commit to the recognition and implementation of Aboriginal justice systems in a manner consistent with the Treaty and Aboriginal rights of Aboriginal peoples, the Constitution Act, 1982, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, endorsed by Canada in November 2012.

TRC Calls to Action on HEALTH




The next series of Calls to Action, 18-24, concern the transformation of health systems that continue to endanger the health of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. We continue to read excerpts from Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

Health 

Residential schools endangered the health and well-being of the children who attended them. Many students succumbed to infectious disease, particularly tuberculosis. Sexual and physical abuse, as well as separation from families and communities, caused lasting trauma for many others. The effects of this trauma were often passed on to the children of the residential school Survivors and sometimes to their grandchildren. Residential schools also posed a threat to the mental health of students through the pervasive assumptions and assertions they made about the inferiority of Aboriginal peoples, cultures, and languages. This disregard for Aboriginal health and well-being was consistent with the long-established patterns of colonialism: the introduction of new diseases, the disruption of traditional food sources, and the concentration of people on unproductive land and the housing of them in cramped, unsanitary dwellings. 

The legacy 

The schools undermined Aboriginal health by failing to feed and clothe the children properly and housing them in poorly constructed and dangerous buildings. The schools did not properly screen out sick and infectious children, and often lacked adequate treatment facilities. As Ruby Firth, a former student at Stringer Hall in the Northwest Territories, told the Commission, those conditions had a lasting effect. 

I’ve got chronic bronchitis today. Every winter I get pneumonia like two or three times and I’m on two puffers ’cause when I was in Stringer Hall residential school they used to put us in these little skinny red coats that weren’t even warm enough for winter. And we used to have to walk across the street to go to school.… Both my lungs are 50% scarred from having pneumonia seven times in [residential school]. That’s always going to be there, it’s never going to go away.

There were also lasting psychological and emotional impacts. Sonia Wuttunee Byrd described the damage that residential school caused her. I lost my braids, my beautiful hair was cut, and I felt like my identity was so confused, I didn’t know who I was. What is even worse is that they started to sexually take advantage of me and abuse me, not one, not two, but many, many people for a very long time, until I was sixteen. I started to really deteriorate. I became very sick and anorexic, and really started to go downhill. At one point I only weighed sixty-six pounds, and that was it, I had no desire to live. The doctor said, “You have a month to live, go home.” He said to my family, “Take her home, she is going to die.”… I would say to Mom and Dad, and they never understood why I was crying. The school always said, “Sonia is a fantastic student, she is doing so well,” but inside it was torment. I held everything in and didn’t tell anybody for twenty years.

Katherine Copenace, a former student at the St. Mary’s residential school in Ontario, told the Commission about her struggles. The residential school students suffered physical, sexual, spiritual, and most of all emotional abuse and my dad used to say to me, “Emotional abuse is more damaging than physical abuse. Your physical hurts heal.” That’s what he used to say. When I got older, I had thoughts of suicide, inflicting pain on myself which I did. I used to slash my arms, pierce my arms, my body and I destroyed myself with alcohol which the government introduced of course.

The children in residential schools were powerless to take healing measures. They were denied access to traditional foods and to families, traditional healers, and communities who could have helped them, according to Aboriginal ways, to deal with the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements of ill health. Because of the isolated location of many of the schools, students were also often denied access to ‘Western’ doctors and nurses. This double denial of health care, based in government policy, continues to this day, due to the relative isolation of many Aboriginal communities, many of which have no road access, and limited access to local health resources. Health care is a right enshrined in international and constitutional law as well as in Treaties. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes that Indigenous peoples have the right to physical and mental integrity, as well as the right to equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.... 

Calls to Action 

18) We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to acknowledge that the current state of Aboriginal health in Canada is a direct result of previous Canadian government policies, including residential schools, and to recognize and implement the health-care rights of Aboriginal people as identified in international law and constitutional law, and under the Treaties. 

Measuring the Gaps

19) We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal peoples, to establish measurable goals to identify and close the gaps in health outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, and to publish annual progress reports and assess long-term trends. Such efforts would focus on indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services. 

20) In order to address the jurisdictional disputes concerning Aboriginal people who do not reside on reserves, we call upon the federal government to recognize, respect, and address the distinct health needs of the Métis, Inuit, and off-reserve Aboriginal peoples. 

Aboriginal Healing Practices

Aboriginal healing practices Aboriginal health practices and beliefs, like Aboriginal peoples themselves, are diverse. However, an holistic approach to health is common to many Aboriginal cultures and has also been increasingly validated by ‘Western’ medicine. A belief shared among many Inuit, Métis, and First Nation people is that a sacred connection exists among people, the Earth, and everything above it, upon it, and within it. For purposes of healing, this means activities such as “on-the-land” or “bush” healing camps where participants can experience the healing power of the natural world. Traditional practices can also include sweat lodges, cedar baths, smudging, the lighting of the Qulliq (a stone lamp used by the Inuit for ceremonial purposes), and other spiritual ceremonies. Best practices for Aboriginal wellness involve a range of services from mainstream health care to traditional practices and medicines, all under community leadership and control. Such an integrated approach has the power to improve the lives of all community members. 

Calls to Action 

21) We call upon the federal government to provide sustainable funding for existing and new Aboriginal healing centres to address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual harms caused by residential schools, and to ensure that the funding of healing centres in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories is a priority. 

22) We call upon those who can effect change within the Canadian health-care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by Aboriginal patients. 

Overcoming the health legacy of the residential schools will require a long-term investment in Aboriginal communities, so that communities can revive their capacity to heal themselves. One key investment will be the training of more Aboriginal health and social service professionals. The work that Health Canada’s community cultural and traditional knowledge healing team members did in support of this Commission and other Settlement Agreement processes is but one example of the invaluable service these professionals can provide.

23) We call upon all levels of government to: 

        i. Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the healthcare field. 

        ii. Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health-care providers in Aboriginal communities. 

        iii. Provide cultural competency training for all health-care professionals. Closing the gap in health         outcomes will come about only as part of a comprehensive strategy of change. To be more                       effective in improving health outcomes, non-Aboriginal medical practitioners must develop a                  better understanding of the health issues facing Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and of the legacy of            residential schools. 

24) We call upon medical and nursing schools in Canada to require all students to take a course dealing with Aboriginal health issues, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous teachings and practices. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Friday, July 2, 2021

Five ideas to support Indigenous language revitalization in Canada

                                         

We continue reading excerpts from Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and look at more Calls to Action for Language. This time the calls are aimed at Government Programs for Indigenous Languages and processes for Reclaiming Names. These are  Calls to Action 14 - 17.  

Government programs 

At a time when government funding is most needed to protect Aboriginal languages and culture, Canada has not upheld commitments it previously made to fund such programs. In 2002, the federal government promised $160 million for the creation of a centre for Aboriginal languages and culture and a national language strategy. But, in 2006, the government retreated from that commitment, pledging instead to spend $5 million per year in “permanent funding” for the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ali), which had been started in 1998. The ali is a program of government-administered heritage subsidies. It is not based on the notion of respectful nation-to-nation relations between Canada and Aboriginal peoples. Neither does it provide Aboriginal people with the opportunity to make decisions for themselves about how to allocate scarce resources and how to administer programs. Many who appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada were skeptical about the government’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission commitment to preserve Aboriginal languages. As Michael Sillett told us, “I cannot see the federal government putting out the money that’s necessary for full restitution, you know.... I can’t bring back my language; I lost that. I lost my culture, you know”… The outcome of the consultation should be legislation and policies that affirm the importance of Canada’s Indigenous languages, and allocate adequate funding to ensure their preservation. 

Calls to Action 

14) We call upon the federal government to enact an Aboriginal Languages Act that incorporates the following principles: 

    i.   Aboriginal languages are a fundamental and valued element of Canadian culture and society, and          there is an urgency to preserve them. 

    ii.   Aboriginal language rights are reinforced by the Treaties. 

    iii. The federal government has a responsibility to provide sufficient funds for Aboriginal-language             revitalization and preservation. 

     iv. The preservation, revitalization, and strengthening of Aboriginal languages and cultures are best              managed by Aboriginal people and communities. 

       v. Funding for Aboriginal language initiatives must reflect the diversity of Aboriginal languages. 


15) We call upon the federal government to appoint, in consultation with Aboriginal groups, an Aboriginal Languages Commissioner. The commissioner should help promote Aboriginal languages and report on the adequacy of federal funding of Aboriginal-languages initiatives. 

In addition to promoting the use of Aboriginal languages, an Aboriginal Languages Commissioner would also educate non-Aboriginal Canadians about the richness and value of Aboriginal languages and how strengthening those languages can enhance Canada’s international reputation... 

16) We call upon post-secondary institutions to create university and college degree and diploma programs in Aboriginal languages. 

Reclaiming names 

As a result of the residential school experienc
e, many Aboriginal people lost their language and lost touch with their culture. Many also suffered a loss of a different sort. It was common for residential school officials to give students new names. At the Aklavik Anglican school in the Northwest Territories, a young Inuit girl named Masak became “Alice”—she would not hear her old name until she returned home.96 At the Qu’Appelle school in Saskatchewan, Ochankugahe (Path Maker) became Daniel Kennedy, named for the biblical Daniel, and Adélard Standing Buffalo was named for Adélard Langevin, the Archbishop of St. Boniface.97 Survivors and their families who have sought to reclaim the names that were taken from them in residential schools have found the process to be both expensive and time consuming. We believe that measures should be put in place to reduce the burden placed on those who seek to reclaim this significant portion of their heritage. 

Call to Action

17) We call upon all levels of government to enable residential school Survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system by waiving administrative costs for a period of five years for the name-change process and the revision of official identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers.