National Chief says Canada 40 years from change after Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Take a virtual walk of reflection

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission delivered its final report to the federal Government in 2015. The document was the result of more than eight years of work to gather the painful stories and experiences of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island, now known as Canada, and attempt to find a way toward reconciling Canada’s colonial past and the horrific treatment of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Included in that report were 94 “calls to action”. According to reporting, as of August of this year, only 13 of them have been completed. As you take this virtual walk of reflection (in the feature below) along the Missinnihe, which means “Trusting Creek” in Eastern Ojibwe, or the ‘Credit River’, on the traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, Haudensosaunee, Anishinaabe, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: consider how much further we have to go to reach complete reconciliation.

“At that rate we’re going with the number of calls to action that have been actually implemented, it’s going to take 40 years to complete all the calls to action,” Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald said this week.

“That’s kind of disheartening that we’re not moving faster. The Canadian government and all the partners that are mentioned in these calls to action are not moving as quickly as they could be.”

Here is a link to the Assembly of First Nations’ “general assessment of the progress the Government of Canada and other levels of government have made in meeting the goals set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action released in December 2015.”

Of the 94 calls to action—the vast majority of which are still far from complete 15 years after work to put them together began—The Pointer is highlighting 12 of them. 

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer) 

Children and Youth, Child Welfare

1. Reduce the number of Indigenous children in care

According to the Government of Canada website: 

“As of March 31, 2019, 9,317 First Nations children on-reserve are in care received services funded by the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) program. This is an increase of the number of First Nations on-reserve children that received services funded by the FNCFS program in 2016. As of March 31, 2016, 8,544 – or 52.2 percent – First Nations children on reserve in care received services funded by the FNCFS program.”

Data collected from Statistics Canada states that as of 2021, Indigenous children account for 53.8 percent of children in foster care – a slight increase from 2016 – while making up only less than 10 percent of the total population.

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Children and Youth, Education

6. Repeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada

Section 43 states: “Every school teacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or child, as the case may be, who is under his care, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances.”

According to the Government of Canada website:

“The Government of Canada continues to support parenting education, including the development of publications that discourages physical punishment and physical discipline of children and provides parents with positive parenting skills. The Department of Justice Canada recently updated Criminal Law and Managing Children's Behaviour to explain the law and clarify that corporal punishment is not permitted in schools. It also indicates that many forms of physical punishment of children are not consistent with the guidelines set out by the Supreme Court of Canada in its 2004 decision on section 43 of the Criminal Code (Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General)) and are considered crimes in Canada.

The revised content also includes links to several resources providing more information about the laws in Canada and parenting, such as those published in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada.”

The Government of Canada continues to explore how best to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 6 to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code.

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Children and Youth, Education and Reconciliation

63. Council of Ministers of Education to maintain an annual commitment to indigenous education issues

According to the Government of Canada website:

“The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada is responsible for the response to Call to Action 63.”

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Language and Culture

14. Enact Indigenous Languages Act 

According to the Government of Canada website:

“On June 21, 2019, the Indigenous Languages Act received Royal Assent and sets out a number of purposes and mechanisms, including:

• creating an Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages

• establishing measures to facilitate the provision of adequate, sustainable and long-term funding for the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of Indigenous languages

• providing for agreements or arrangements under sections 8 and 9 to support Indigenous language revitalization and preservation with Indigenous governments or organizations and provinces and territories including in areas of provincial or territorial jurisdiction

• recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples recognized and affirmed under sec. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, including rights related to Indigenous languages

• facilitating meaningful opportunities for Indigenous governments and other Indigenous governing bodies and Indigenous organizations to collaborate in policy development related to the implementation of this act

• outlining federal institutions' role in providing access to services in Indigenous languages where capacity and demand exists, subject to established regulations or agreements

• requiring parliamentary reviews every 3 years and independent reviews every 5 years”.

A Joint Implementation Steering Committee has been created for the purpose of working together on the implementation of the act. The committee is made up of representatives of the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council and Canadian Heritage.
 

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Health

18. Acknowledge the current state of indigenous health in Canada as 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, constitutional law, and under the Treaties.

According to the Government of Canada website:

“The Government of Canada acknowledges that the current state of Indigenous health is a direct result of the shameful colonialist policies and interventions against the well-being of Indigenous peoples and communities, including residential schools, the Sixties Scoop and other harmful practices whose impacts are still felt today. The intergenerational impacts of residential schools are well documented in international and national evidence cited in Government of Canada publications and specifically recognized in partnership agreements with Indigenous governments and representatives. The Government of Canada has publicly acknowledged the impact of colonization on health care at recent forums including the third virtual national dialogue on anti-Indigenous racism in health care held in June 2021.

With the support of Health Canada (HC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNAC), Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has been leading the planning and coordination of national dialogues on addressing racism experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada's health care systems. Central to this work is the promotion and support of Indigenous healing approaches. National dialogues held in October 2020, January 2021 and June 2021 have brought together participants from National Indigenous Organizations, Indigenous health professional organizations, provincial and territorial governments, and other stakeholders. Immediate steps will be acknowledged and taken, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, to address anti-Indigenous racism in order to achieve patient and cultural safety across health systems and improve the quality of care for Indigenous peoples. Work and engagement will continue through 2021 and beyond.

The 2020 Fall Economic Statement announced an initial investment of $15.6 million over 2 years, starting in 2021 to 2022 to support the co-development of distinctions-based health legislation with First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation.

Budget 2021 is providing $1.4 billion over 5 years, beginning in 2021 to 2022, and $40.6 million ongoing, to maintain essential health care services for First Nations and Inuit, continue work to transform First Nations health systems, and respond to the health impacts of climate change.”

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Health

23. Increase the number of Indigenous professionals working in the healthcare field 

According to the Government of Canada website:

“Canada is working to co-develop distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation to improve access to high-quality and culturally relevant services. The Minister of Indigenous Services Canada publicly launched the engagement process on Indigenous health legislation on January 28, 2021, during the second virtual meeting on anti-Indigenous racism in health care.

The Federal Pathway builds upon this work. In June 2021 the Government of Canada announced commitment to actions that will contribute to the creation of health systems free of racism and discrimination and better health outcomes for Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. This includes distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation and implementation co-developed with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation, backed with the investments needed to deliver high-quality health care for all Indigenous peoples, access to high quality, timely, stable and culturally relevant distinctions-based services, including a patient-centered approach to health service delivery, and preparedness and response services enhanced to address public health emergencies in a way that aligns with Indigenous priorities, builds local capacity and is responsive and sustainable.

The 2020 Fall Economic Statement announced an initial investment of $15.6 million over 2 years, starting in 2021 to 2022 to support the co-development of distinctions-based health legislation with First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation.”

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Justice in the Legal System 

44. Canadian Governments and United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) action plan

According to the Government of Canada website:

“The 2019 and 2020 Speech from the Throne included a commitment to introduce legislation for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the end of 2020. The Minister of Justice was mandated to lead this with the support of the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.

On June 21, 2021, Bill C-15, an Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, received Royal Assent. This Act provides a legislative framework for the Government of Canada's implementation of the declaration and requires measures to ensure the consistency of federal laws with the declaration, the development of an action plan to achieve the objectives of the declaration and annual reports on progress.

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $31.5 million over 2 years, starting in 2021 to 2022, to support the co-development of an action plan with Indigenous partners to implement this legislation and to achieve the objectives of the declaration. This process will support Indigenous self-determination and enhance nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown and government-to-government relationships.”

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

History and Commemoration, Museums and Archives

69. Fully adopt and implement UNDRIP, and more, and ensure records related to residential schools are available to the public, and commit more resources to its public education materials and programming on residential schools

According to the Government of Canada website:

“In April 2019, Library and Archives Canada launched the Indigenous Heritage Action Plan, a 5-year plan guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, which was developed in consultation with an Indigenous advisory circle.

As stated in the principles and purpose section of the plan, Library and Archives Canada commits to respecting the rights defined by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher Principles.

The plan has 28 concrete actions that Library and Archives Canada will undertake between 2019 and 2024. Library and Archives Canada periodically reports publicly on implementation of the plan through the Indigenous Heritage Action Plan Implementation Progress Report, with an update to be published in 2022.

In addition, Library and Archives Canada developed 2 Indigenous documentary heritage initiatives in 2017 that support the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages and culture in Canada: "We Are Here: Sharing Stories" and "Listen, Hear Our Voices."

The initiatives were initially funded for a period of 3 years, ending in March 2021. They received additional funding in Budget 2021 and will continue to operate until August 2024.”

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

History and Commemoration, Missing Children and Burial Information

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:

1. The Indigenous community most affected shall lead the development of such strategies.

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

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

According to the Government of Canada website:

“Call to Action 76 sets out the overall principles for advancing the implementation of Calls to Action 72 to 75. For this call to action, CIRNAC has hosted a series of 16 virtual engagement sessions throughout the summer and fall of 2020 with over 140 participants from a wide variety of Indigenous organizations across Canada.

Through these engagement sessions, CIRNAC received the necessary guidance for the development of a national approach to the implementation of Calls to Action 74 and 75 and advice on the creation of a National Advisory Committee that will be established in summer 2022 . The proposed advisory committee will adopt strategies in accordance with the principles set out in Call to Action 76.

In 2019, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $33.8 million over 3 years for the implementation of Calls to Action 72 to 76.

In August 2021, the Government announced additional investments of approximately $320 million to support Indigenous community-led work surrounding burial sites, including $83 million for CIRNAC to continue to provide funding to Indigenous communities to support efforts to locate, document, and commemorate or memorialize burial sites associated with former residential schools and honour families’ wishes to bring children’s remains home.

As of March 7, 2022, more than 99 formal requests totaling over $215 million (approximately $184 million directed to CIRNAC and $31 million to ISC) have been received from Indigenous communities and organizations for activities relating to 110 residential schools. To date, 65 funding requests ($72.5 million) have been approved by CIRNAC.

Many of these requests have also included proposals for healing supports and several have specifically requested funds for healing spaces and traditional ceremonies and practices. In addition to the $72.5 million approved by CIRNAC, ISC has approved $10.5 million related to mental health supports and for COVID public health measures for residential school funding requests and has allocated $107.3 million to bolster the existing network of trauma-informed health and cultural supports, including in urban areas, representing a doubling of funding for 2021 to 2022 from previous years.”

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Reconciliation, National Council for Reconciliation

53. Enact legislation in consultation and collaboration with Indigenous peoples to establish a National Council for Reconciliation

According to the Government of Canada website:

“The creation of a National Council for Reconciliation (NCR) as a national Indigenous-led oversight body is a vital milestone to implementing the Calls to Action from the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and in particular ensures the full implementation of Calls to Action 53 to 56.

The NCR's core mandate would be to ensure the Government of Canada's accountability for reconciling the relationship with Indigenous Peoples and implementing the Calls to Action. Establishing the National Council for Reconciliation is one of the many actions that the Government of Canada is taking to advance reconciliation in Canada and it is a clear priority of Indigenous partners.

In December 2017, the Prime Minister announced the creation of an Interim Board of Directors to make recommendations on the creation of a National Council for Reconciliation.

In June 2018, an Interim Board of Directors presented its final report to the Minister, which contained 20 specific recommendations relating to the name, vision, mission, mandate, structure, membership, funding, reporting, and the legislation of the National Council for Reconciliation.

On December 16, 2021, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced that an Indigenous-led Transitional Committee had been established. The Committee has begun their work through discussions on the vision for the Council, identified key milestones and timelines, as well as a proposed engagement approach.

Budget 2019 announced a total of $126.5 million to establish the National Council for Reconciliation, which includes $1.5 million to support the first year of operations.

The transitional committee has been established to lead the engagement on the draft legal framework with Indigenous partners, provinces, territories and other key partners.

The Transitional Committee members that have been appointed by the Minister are former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Wilton Littlechild, Dr. Mike DeGagné, Edith Cloutier, Rosemary Cooper and Mitch Case.”

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Reconciliation, National Council for 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:

1. 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.

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

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

4. 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.

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

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

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

According to the Government of Canada website:

“The National Council for Reconciliation will be an independent, Indigenous-led, not-for-profit organization mandated to monitor and report on progress towards reconciliation and calls to action implementation.

Once the National Council is formally established, reporting requirements for all levels of government will be developed and identified to demonstrate progress towards reconciliation.

Call to Action 55 is dependent on the full implementation of Calls to Action 53 and 54.”

(Alexis Wright/The Pointer)

Reconciliation, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

78. Contribute $10 million over seven years to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation plus additional amounts to assist communities in research and produce histories of their own residential school experience and their involvement in truth, healing, and reconciliation

According to the Government of Canada website:

“In 2018, the Government of Canada provided $10 million to support the important work of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, as announced by the Prime Minister in December 2016.

This contribution will help to ensure that the history and legacy of Canada's residential school system is never forgotten. Work continues with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation on how to proceed with other elements of this Call to Action.”

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @lextoinfinity

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