Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action PDF

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action This report is in the public domain. Anyone may, without charge or request for permission, reproduce all or part of this report. 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission...

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action This report is in the public domain. Anyone may, without charge or request for permission, reproduce all or part of this report. 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2012 1500–360 Main Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3Z3 Telephone: (204) 984-5885 Toll Free: 1-888-872-5554 (1-888-TRC-5554) Fax: (204) 984-5915 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.trc.ca 1 Calls to Action In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and publish annual reports on the number of Aboriginal advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the Truth children (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) who are in and Reconciliation Commission makes the following calls to care, compared with non-Aboriginal children, as well action. as the reasons for apprehension, the total spending on preventive and care services by child-welfare agencies, and the effectiveness of various interventions. Legacy 3. Child welfare 1. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Jordan’s Principle. 4. We call upon the federal government to enact Aboriginal Aboriginal governments to commit to reducing the child-welfare legislation that establishes national number of Aboriginal children in care by: standards for Aboriginal child apprehension and custody cases and includes principles that: i. Monitoring and assessing neglect investigations. i. Affirm the right of Aboriginal governments to ii. Providing adequate resources to enable Aboriginal establish and maintain their own child-welfare communities and child-welfare organizations to agencies. keep Aboriginal families together where it is safe to do so, and to keep children in culturally appropriate ii. Require all child-welfare agencies and courts to take environments, regardless of where they reside. the residential school legacy into account in their decision making. iii. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly iii. Establish, as an important priority, a requirement educated and trained about the history and impacts that placements of Aboriginal children into of residential schools. temporary and permanent care be culturally appropriate. iv. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly 5. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, educated and trained about the potential for and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally Aboriginal communities and families to provide appropriate parenting programs for Aboriginal families. more appropriate solutions to family healing. v. Requiring that all child-welfare decision makers consider the impact of the residential school Education 6. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with the provinces and territories, to prepare and We call upon the Government of Canada to repeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada. experience on children and their caregivers. 2. We call upon all levels of government to fully implement 7. We call upon the federal government to develop with Aboriginal groups a joint strategy to eliminate 2 | Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada educational and employment gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians. 8. We call upon the federal government to eliminate the discrepancy in federal education funding for First 9. 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 Nations children being educated on reserves and those element of Canadian culture and society, and there First Nations children being educated off reserves. is an urgency to preserve them. We call upon the federal government to prepare and publish annual reports comparing funding for the education of First Nations children on and off reserves, as well as educational and income attainments of Aboriginal peoples in Canada compared with nonAboriginal people. 10. We call on the federal government to draft new Aboriginal education legislation with the full participation and informed consent of Aboriginal 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. peoples. The new legislation would include a v. Funding for Aboriginal language initiatives must commitment to sufficient funding and would reflect the diversity of Aboriginal languages. incorporate the following principles: i. Providing sufficient funding to close identified 15. We call upon the federal government to appoint, in consultation with Aboriginal groups, an Aboriginal educational achievement gaps within one Languages Commissioner. The commissioner should generation. help promote Aboriginal languages and report on the ii. Improving education attainment levels and success rates. iii. Developing culturally appropriate curricula. iv. Protecting the right to Aboriginal languages, including the teaching of Aboriginal languages as credit courses. v. Enabling parental and community responsibility, adequacy of federal funding of Aboriginal-languages initiatives. 16. We call upon post-secondary institutions to create university and college degree and diploma programs in Aboriginal languages. 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 control, and accountability, similar to what parents waiving administrative costs for a period of five years enjoy in public school systems. for the name-change process and the revision of official vi. Enabling parents to fully participate in the education of their children. identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers. vii. Respecting and honouring Treaty relationships. 11. We call upon the federal government to provide adequate funding to end the backlog of First Nations students seeking a post-secondary education. 12. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Aboriginal families. Language and culture 13. We call upon the federal government to acknowledge that Aboriginal rights include Aboriginal language rights. Health 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, constitutional law, and under the Treaties. 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 Calls to Action| 3 between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate crimes in and to publish annual progress reports and assess long- which the government has its own interest as a potential term trends. Such efforts would focus on indicators such or real party in civil litigation. 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. 21. We call upon the federal government to provide 26. We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to review and amend their respective statutes of limitations to ensure that they conform to 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 sustainable funding for existing and new Aboriginal and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal– healing centres to address the physical, mental, Crown relations. This will require skills-based training emotional, and spiritual harms caused by residential in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human schools, and to ensure that the funding of healing rights, and anti-racism. centres in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories is a priority. 22. We call upon those who can effect change within the 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 Canadian health-care system to recognize the value schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by This will require skills-based training in intercultural Aboriginal patients. competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti- 23. We call upon all levels of government to: i. Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health-care field. ii. Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health-care providers in Aboriginal communities. iii. Provide cultural competency training for all healthcare professionals. 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 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 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties governments to provide sufficient and stable funding and Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous teachings and to implement and evaluate community sanctions that practices. This will require skills-based training in will provide realistic alternatives to imprisonment for intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human Aboriginal offenders and respond to the underlying rights, and anti-racism. causes of offending. Justice 25. We call upon the federal government to establish a written policy that reaffirms the independence of the 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. 4 | Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 33. We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial 40. We call on all levels of government, in collaboration governments to recognize as a high priority the need to with Aboriginal people, to create adequately funded address and prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and accessible Aboriginal-specific victim programs and (FASD), and to develop, in collaboration with Aboriginal services with appropriate evaluation mechanisms. people, FASD preventive programs that can be delivered in a culturally appropriate manner. 34. We call upon the governments of Canada, the provinces, 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 and territories to undertake reforms to the criminal disproportionate victimization of Aboriginal women and justice system to better address the needs of offenders girls. The inquiry’s mandate would include: 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 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 resources to maximize the ability of people with Indigenous Peoples, endorsed by Canada in November FASD to live in the community. 2012. iv. Adopting appropriate evaluation mechanisms to measure the effectiveness of such programs and ensure community safety. Reconciliation barriers to the creation of additional Aboriginal healing Canadian Governments and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People lodges within the federal correctional system. 43. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and 35. We call upon the federal government to eliminate 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, 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 and overcoming the experience of having been sexually a national action plan, strategies, and other concrete abused. measures to achieve the goals of the United Nations 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 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation 45. We call upon the Government of Canada, on behalf of Aboriginal governments to commit to eliminating the all Canadians, to jointly develop with Aboriginal peoples overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in custody over a Royal Proclamation of Reconciliation to be issued by the next decade. the Crown. The proclamation would build on the Royal 39. We call upon the federal government to develop a Proclamation of 1763 and the Treaty of Niagara of 1764, national plan to collect and publish data on the criminal and reaffirm the nation-to-nation relationship between victimization of Aboriginal people, including data Aboriginal peoples and the Crown. The proclamation related to homicide and family violence victimization. would include, but not be limited to, the following commitments: Calls to Action| 5 i. Repudiate concepts used to justify European 47. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples such municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius. justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples ii. Adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation. 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. iii. Renew or establish Treaty relationships based on and shared responsibility for maintaining those Settlement Agreement Parties and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples relationships into the future. 48. We call upon the church parties to the Settlement principles of mutual recognition, mutual respect, 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 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- reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would determination in spiritual matters, including include, but not be limited to: the right to practise, develop, and teach their i. Reaffirmation of the parties’ commitment to own spiritual and religious traditions, customs, 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 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 Peoples as the framework for reconciliation. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. iv. Support for the renewal or establishment of 49. We call upon all religious denominations and faith Treaty relationships based on principles of mutual recognition, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for maintaining those relationships into the future. 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. Agreement to sign onto the Covenant of Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System Reconciliation. 50. In keeping with the United Nations Declaration on v. Enabling those excluded from the Settlement vi. Enabling additional parties to sign onto the Covenant of Reconciliation. 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 6 | Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada understanding of Indigenous laws and access to justice iv. Promote public dialogue, public/private in accordance with the unique cultures of Aboriginal partnerships, and public initiatives for peoples in Canada. reconciliation. 51. We call upon the Government of Canada, as an 54. We call upon the Government of Canada to provide obligation of its fiduciary responsibility, to develop a multi-year funding for the National Council for policy of transparency by publishing legal opinions it Reconciliation to ensure that it has the financial, human, develops and upon which it acts or intends to act, in and technical resources required to conduct its work, regard to the scope and extent of Aboriginal and Treaty including the endowment of a National Reconciliation rights. Trust to advance the cause of reconciliation. 52. We call upon the Government of Canada, provincial 55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual and territorial governments, and the courts to adopt the reports or any current data requested by the National following legal principles: Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the 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. 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 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 nonAboriginal 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 nonAboriginal people. iv. Progress on closing the gaps between Aboriginal and with membership jointly appointed by the Government non-Aboriginal communities in a number of health of Canada and national Aboriginal organizations, and indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, consisting of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members. suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, Its mandate would include, but not be limited to, the birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic following: diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the i. Monitor, evaluate, and report annually to Parliament and the people of Canada on the Government of availability of appropriate health services. v. Progress on eliminating the overrepresentation of Canada’s post-apology progress on reconciliation Aboriginal children in youth custody over the next to ensure that government accountability for decade. reconciling the relationship between Aboriginal vi. Progress on reducing the rate of criminal peoples and the Crown is maintained in the coming victimization of Aboriginal people, including years. data related to homicide and family violence ii. Monitor, evaluate, and report to Parliament and the people of Canada on reconciliation progress across victimization and other crimes. vii. Progress on reducing the overrepresentation of all levels and sectors of Canadian society, including Aboriginal people in the justice and correctional the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation systems. Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. iii. Develop and implement a multi-year National 56. We call upon the prime minister of Canada to formally respond to the report of the National Council for Action Plan for Reconciliation, which includes Reconciliation by issuing an annual “State of Aboriginal research and policy development, public education Peoples” report, which would outline the government’s programs, and resources. plans for advancing the cause of reconciliation. Calls to Action| 7 Professional Development and Training for Public Servants ii. Community-controlled culture- and language- 57. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and iii. Community-controlled education and relationship- 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 skillsbased training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. revitalization projects. building projects. iv. Regional dialogues for Indigenous spiritual leaders and youth to discuss Indigenous spirituality, selfdetermination, and reconciliation. Education for reconciliation 62. We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in consultation and collaboration with Church Apologies and Reconciliation Survivors, Aboriginal peoples, and educators, to: 58. We call upon the Pope to issue an apology to Survivors, i. Make age-appropriate curriculum on residential their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, and contemporary contributions to Canada a physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten Métis children in Catholic-run residential schools. We to Grade Twelve students. 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 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 former residential school students, their families, and assistant deputy minister level or higher dedicated to communities were necessary. Aboriginal content in education. 60. We call upon leaders of the church parties to the 63. We call upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Settlement Agreement and all other faiths, in Canada to maintain an annual commitment to collaboration with Indigenous spiritual leaders, Aboriginal education issues, including: Survivors, schools of theology, seminaries, and other i. Developing and implementing Kindergarten to religious training centres, to develop and teach Grade Twelve curriculum and learning resources curriculum for all student clergy, and all clergy and on Aboriginal peoples in Canadian history, and the staff who work in Aboriginal communities, on the need history and legacy of residential schools. 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. 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 8 | Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 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. 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 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. Missing Children and Burial Information 71. We call upon all chief coroners and provincial vital a national network to share information and best statistics agencies that have not provided to the Truth practices. and Reconciliation Commission of Canada their Museums and Archives 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 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 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and churches and Aboriginal community leaders to inform the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher Principles, as the families of children who died at residential schools related to Aboriginal peoples’ inalienable right to of the child’s burial location, and to respond to families’ know the truth about what happened and why, with wishes for appropriate commemoration ceremonies regard to human rights violations committed against and markers, and reburial in home communities where them in the residential schools. requested. 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 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, to the Canadian Association of Archivists to undertake, commemoration, and protection of residential school in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, a national cemeteries or other sites at which residential school review of archival policies and best practices to: children were buried. This is to include the provision of Calls to Action| 9 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 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 Survivors and other Knowledge Keepers in the legacy of residential schools remains a vital component development of such strategies. of the reconciliation process. iii. Aboriginal protocols shall be respected before 81. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration any potentially invasive technical inspection and with Survivors and their organizations, and other parties investigation of a cemetery site. to the Settlement Agreement, to commission and install 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. 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. 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. Media and Reconciliation 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, 10 | Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada including the history and legacy of residential cultures and traditional sporting activities of schools and the reconciliation process. Aboriginal peoples. 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 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. media schools to require education for all students on Business and Reconciliation the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history 92. We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal– apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate Crown relations. policy and core operational activities involving 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 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. inclusive of Aboriginal peoples, including, but not Newcomers to Canada limited to, establishing: 93. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration i. In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, stable funding for, and access to, community sports programs that reflect the diverse 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 Calls to Action| 11 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. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 1500–360 Main Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3Z3 Telephone: (204) 984-5885 Toll Free: 1-888-872-5554 (1-888-TRC-5554) Fax: (204) 984-5915 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.trc.ca