A decade after Truth and reconciliation The commission issued its 94 calls to action, and advocates say progress has been made but more work needs to be done to achieve meaningful reconciliation.
The commission's final report was published on 15 December 2015, setting out recommendations aimed at addressing the legacy of residential schools and promoting reconciliation between Local and non-Indigenous people in Canada.
In an interview with Global News, Jennifer Wood, a residential school survivor, says she has seen a marked shift in community awareness and understanding over the past 10 years.
“I see a significant change in the eyes of the general public,” Wood said. “They’re more empathetic, they’re more understanding, they look at it through a different lens.”
Among the calls to action is a commitment to create and preserve records of children who attended residential schools.
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Wood says she can now access information about her mother and grandmother through the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR).
“The fact that they are protected means a lot to me,” she said. “Because everything needs to be accessible to survivors who want to know information about themselves and their families.”
In a statement marking the anniversary, the NCTR said the milestone is a time to “assess our progress and renew our commitment” to reconciliation.
However, supporters say implementation has been uneven. Indigenous studies professor Cody Groat of Western University estimates that fewer than 20 of the 94 calls to action were fully implemented.
“In many ways, the balance of power between the federal government and Indigenous peoples would have to gradually shift back toward Indigenous peoples,” Groat said.
“And when these significant shifts were supposed to happen, that’s when we stopped seeing the changes happening.”
Groat noted that some progress has occurred outside the direct control of the federal government, including a papal apology in Canada and mandatory courses on Indigenous rights in law schools.
Pope Francis receives a traditional headdress after apologizing for the Roman Catholic Church's role in the residential school system in Maswacis, Alta., during his papal visit to Canada on July 25, 2022.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Winnipeg Indigenous advocate Sheila North says Ottawa needs to engage in more meaningful consultation with Indigenous people on major projects and policy decisions.
“I think there's still a lot of work to be done to build trust between them and a lot of coordination to make sure we're on the same page,” North said.
The Assembly of First Nations said it is calling on all levels of government to renew their commitment to the Calls to Action.
Regional Chief Terry Tiegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations says the recommendations are as relevant today as they were 10 years ago.
“As we have seen ongoing racism, rhetoric and denial over the last 10 years, I think it is very important to counter these narratives,” Tiji said.
Advocates say that while reconciliation will take decades, more action is needed now to ensure progress continues.
