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 April 1, 2024 37% of the 94 TRC Calls to Action are either NOT STARTED or STALLED? Why?
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Indigenous Watchdog, a federally registered non-profit, is committed to transforming the reconciliation dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians into ACTION.
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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.
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Not Started
In Progress
Stalled
Complete
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Featured Updates
Environment
‘To us, that border doesn’t exist’: The Globe in Alaska
Alaska Indigenous groups want a say in B.C. mining projects they fear could hurt their livelihoods. A border stands in the way – but they……
April 19, 2024
Health (18-24)
Race a factor in negligent care that led to Indigenous woman’s death at Winnipeg hospital, lawsuit alleges
Nurse put wrist restraints on 68-year-old hours before she died in April 2022, according to lawsuit Jean Kemash, 68, sought care at the Grace Hospital’s……
April 19, 2024
Language and Culture (13-17)
‘Aunties’ teach Kahnawà:ke teens how to sew their own ribbon skirts
Class is part of the Kanien’kehá:ka community’s annual cultural awareness month Kahnawà:ke teens learn to sew their own ribbon skirts 19 hours ago, Duration 2:06 Lisa……
April 19, 2024
Call to Action # 13
Federal funding for Indigenous culture, language programs must be sustainable, say advocates
This week’s federal budget incudes $290M for Indigenous-led programs Belinda kakiyosēw Daniels works with participants in a cultural mentorship program at Sturgeon Lake First Nation this week. (Submitted……
April 19, 2024
Call to Action # 92
Indigenous tourism official applauds federal government’s budget support
Keith Henry, president and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. WindSpeaker.com: There are varying views from Indigenous leaders about the federal budget unveiled……
April 18, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
‘We get pennies’: NDP Idlout denounces federal budget for lack of commitment to Indigenous Peoples
https://player.vimeo.com/video/936470983?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: Indigenous leaders responded to Tuesday’s federal budget with frustration and disappointment. According to NDP MP Lori Idlout it doesn’t come close to……
April 18, 2024
Call to Action # 18
Report says Winnipeg mobile overdose prevention site ‘surpassing all expectations’
A mobile overdose prevention site is shown in Winnipeg in this undated handout photo. A mobile overdose prevention site in Winnipeg has seen tens of……
April 18, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Feds mull options as Métis self-government bill threatens to collapse
Métis Nation-Saskatchewan withdraws support for Bill C-53 Métis Nation-Saskatchewan president Glen McCallum gives a speech at a legislative assembly event in 2019.(Submitted by Métis Nation-Saskatchewan)……
April 18, 2024
Health (18-24)
Advocates say making First Nations accessible will cost more than AFN estimates
Estimate includes $1.6 billion to address accessibility needs in First Nations Iris Phillips (left) is the advocacy co-ordinator for Connecting Horizons, an advocacy group for……
April 18, 2024
Call to Action # 92
Hydro-Québec and Kahnawà:ke strike historic deal to co-own New York transmission line
Kahnawà:ke owns 10% of portion in Quebec, with option to purchase more Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière, left, Grand Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, middle, and Hydro-Québec……
April 18, 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: April 1, 2024
Continue readingHow successful are the 24 Faculties of Law in implementing Call to Action # 28?
The 24 Faculties of Law in Canada have taken widely different approaches to implementing a mandatory Indigenous course in response to Call to Action # 28. What follows is an objective view of what each faculty is delivering based exclusively on how many mandatory Indigenous courses are offered over how many terms that address the
Continue reading