Indigenous Rights and the Indian Act

A law passed in 1876 to control and assimilate Indigenous peoples in Canada, restricting their rights and autonomy. It banned traditional ceremonies, denied voting rights, forced attendance at residential schools, controlled land and resources on reserves, and defined who was "Indian" under the law, often breaking families.

Shared values held by Canada's Indigenous peoples, including a deep connection to land and nature, respect for elders and their knowledge, valuing community and kinship, spirituality and traditions, and responsibility for environmental stewardship.

A system of government-funded boarding schools for Indigenous children in Canada, intended to assimilate them into Euro-Canadian culture by erasing their language and traditions. The devastating outcome included physical, emotional, and cultural abuse, leading to loss of identity and family ties, and generational trauma.

A period in the 1960s and 1980s when a large number of Indigenous children were removed from their families and placed in non-Indigenous homes. This practice caused cultural genocide by disconnecting children from their heritage and causing identity loss, leading to lifelong struggles with identity, abuse, and racism for many victims.

The transfer of emotional and psychological harm caused by historical events like residential schools across generations. It manifests in ongoing mental health issues, substance abuse, and loss of cultural knowledge within families.

Established to document the history of residential schools and promote healing and reconciliation, the TRC issued four key Calls to Action: Education reform to teach the true history of Indigenous peoples, recognition and protection of Indigenous languages, justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and addressing systemic racism in policies and institutions.

Indigenous peoples in Canada seek recognition of land and treaty rights, preservation of language and culture, justice for historical and ongoing injustices, equal access to healthcare, education, and housing, and true reconciliation based on respect and partnership.

A process by which Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government work together to build a better future based on mutual respect, understanding, and shared values. It involves acknowledging the harms of the past, addressing ongoing injustices, and creating a more equitable and inclusive society.