260 years of promises made and promises broken to Canada’s First Peoples
What progress has been made since the TRC Calls to Action were released in June 2015?
Welcome to Indigenous Watchdog
As of March 1, 2024 37% of the 94 TRC Calls to Action are either NOT STARTED or STALLED? Why?
INFORM – EDUCATE – EMPOWER
Indigenous Watchdog, a federally registered non-profit, is committed to transforming the reconciliation dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians into ACTION.
Primary Sources for Indigenous Watchdog
- NationTalk
- CBC Indigenous
- APTN News
- First Peoples Law Report
- IndigiNews
- Windspeaker.com
- Canada’s National Observer
- The Tyee
- The Narwhal
- The Toronto Star
- The Globe and Mail
Thousands of embedded links in 30 Themes and hundreds of sub-themes
By curating details from multiple sources – government stakeholders as well as local and national media, research reports, studies, white papers, statistics, budgets – Indigenous Watchdog will deliver relevant, current information to raise awareness on Indigenous issues through an Indigenous lens.
Where are we today?
Start with clicking “Learn More” below to go directly to the Calls to Action landing page: a single page view to the status of all 94 Calls to Action with links to dive deeper into any Indigenous issue you wish to explore.
Be informed. Speak up. Take action. Only then will reconciliation happen.
15/94
47/94
Not Started
In Progress
Stalled
Complete
19/94
13/94
Featured Updates
Language and Culture (13-17)
We can all help save Indigenous languages
Every one of us has a role to play. Indigenous people and settlerCanadians can contribute to a healing chapter in our shared story of Indigenous……
March 28, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Collective rights of Indigenous communities trump individual Charter rights in some cases, Supreme Court rules
The Globe and Mail: Self-governing Indigenous communities have a constitutional right to protect their cultural differences – a collective right that trumps individual rights protected……
March 28, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Native Women’s Association forced to lay off half its staff amid funding shortfall
Native Women’s Association of Canada chief executive Lynne Groulx takes her seat after speaking during an event launching a graphic guide to genocide, in Ottawa……
March 28, 2024
Treaties and Land Claims
‘The Gold Rush is over’: First Nations chiefs celebrate mining exploration court decision
APTN News: Leaders from the Gitxaała and Gitanyow First Nations are celebrating a historic victory after the Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled the province’s……
March 27, 2024
Health (18-24)
Top health officials acknowledge need to ‘refocus efforts’ on TB elimination
Nunavut Tunngavik skeptical current funding will be enough to reach elimination goals Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Patty Hajdu, minister of Indigenous……
March 27, 2024
Housing
Shíshálh Nation rescues, relocates 10 houses slated for demolition
Homes to travel to the First Nation by barge from Port Moody, B.C. A home in Port Moody, B.C., is lifted from its foundation to……
March 27, 2024
Call to Action # 13
Ontario MPPs can now speak their own Indigenous languages at Queen’s Park
Kiiwetinoong MPP recalls being punished for speaking Anishinaabemowin in residential school Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa is seen in Eabametoong First Nation in this February 2024……
March 27, 2024
Justice (25-42)
Saskatoon police using bicycle bylaw as ‘a ruse’ to stop, search and catalogue Indigenous men, lawyer says
Judge reviewed 2 years of ticketing records A Saskatoon lawyer had to fight in court to be allowed to talk about how a judge who……
March 27, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
‘It’s all Haida land’: Nation’s title to be officially recognized over the entirety of Haida Gwaii
A new draft agreement with the province lays out the groundwork to transition governance and jurisdiction over more than 10,000 square km of territory Gaagwiis,……
March 27, 2024
Call to Action # 92
CN details Indigenous relations policy
Company says it’s ‘committed to reconciliation’ after advisory council members quit last year Toronto Star: Canadian National Railway Co. has released a new Indigenous relations……
March 27, 2024
Why is Indigenous “Reconciliation” necessary?
King George III issued the Royal Proclamation in 1763 – 260 years ago. The Proclamation “explicitly stated that Aboriginal title has existed and continues to exist, and that all land would be considered Aboriginal land until ceded by treaty”1. In 1764, the Treaty of Niagara, attended by over 2000 Indigenous leaders ratified the Proclamation and established a new alliance between the British and Indigenous people who used their traditional way of representing treaties – the wampum belt.
The belt consists of two rows of purple wampum beads on a white background. Three rows of white beads symbolizing peace, friendship, and respect separate the two purple rows. The two purple rows symbolize two paths or two vessels travelling down the same river. One row symbolizes the Haudenosaunee people with their law and customs, while the other row symbolizes European laws and customs. As nations move together side-by-side on the River of Life, they are to avoid overlapping or interfering with one another.
It was understood by the Haudenosaunee that the Two Row agreement would last forever, that is, “as long as the grass is green, as long as the water flows downhill, and as long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.2”
Breaking the treaty didn’t take long. The colonial government determined that in order to secure the land for future settlement and development, the Indigenous population needed to be moved onto reserves where they could be more easily controlled, marginalized and kept out of the way. The Indian Act of 18764 institutionalized Canada’s racist policies by denying to Indigenous people the basic rights that were available to every other Canadian like:
- the right to vote: granted in 1960
- the right to practice their religion: denied until 1940
- the right to speak their own languages: late 1880s to early 1960s
- permission from Indian agent to leave reserve: 1885 to 1951
- the right to wear traditional regalia: 1906-1951
- the right to organize political organizations: 1927-1951
- the right to hire a lawyer: 1927-1951
Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982 Section 35 recognizes and affirms Aboriginal title. The biggest challenge facing Indigenous peoples is the continuous refusal of the federal, provincial and territory governments to recognize and acknowledge this fact.
Notes:
- indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca
- “A short introduction to the Two Row Wampum”. Briar Patch.Tom Keefer. March 10, 2014
- Two Row Wampum Belt – Gä•sweñta’ image above courtesy of Onondaga Nation, N.Y.
- “21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act”. Bob Joseph. Indigenous Relations Press. 2018
About Indigenous Watchdog
Indigenus Watchdog is a federally registered non-profit created to monitor and report on critical Indigenous issues including the 94 Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. Our mission is to raise awareness and educate all Canadians on how reconciliation is advancing – or not.
And if not – why?
Featured Content
This space links to the “Perspectives” post for the latest “Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action Status Updates” on the Indigenous Watchdog site. “Perspectives” contains all the Indigenous Watchdog commentary on selected Indigenous issues current at the time of posting
Perspectives Posts
This space links to the “Perspectives” post for the latest “Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action Status Updates” on the Indigenous Watchdog site. “Perspectives” contains all the Indigenous Watchdog commentary on selected Indigenous issues current at the time of posting
See all blog postsTRC Calls To Action Status: March 1, 2024
Continue readingWhat’s New In Indigenous Watchdog: 218 new Entries: Feb. 1 – Feb. 29, 2024
80 Positive Actions vs 106 Negative Actions NOTE: Calls to Action (C2A) Status: March 1, 2024 Not Started Stalled In Progress Complete 15 20 46 13 16.0% 21.3% 48.9% 13.8% Status Legacy Calls to Action(1-42) + 50-52, 62-65 Reconciliation Calls to Action(43-94) Not Started 2, 9, 10, 26, 34, 42, 51, 52, 64 45, 46,
Continue reading