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 September 1, 2023 37% of the 94 TRC Calls to Action are either NOT STARTED or STALLED? Why?
Indigenous Watchdog, a federally registered non-profit, is committed to transforming the reconciliation dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians into ACTION. 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.
INFORM – EDUCATE – EMPOWER
Where are we today? Click on any of the Status Updates below to see the current status of each: what % are Complete, Not Started, Stalled or In Progress. Explore the site for as much detail as you want. The deeper you go the more details you will find including over 4000 embedded links to take you to the original source material.
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
46/94
Not Started
In Progress
Stalled
Complete
20/94
13/94
Featured Updates
Urban Commitments to Reconciliation
Indigenizing Our Cities
Truth and reconciliation requires Indigenous knowledge shaping how urban settings should look, feel and remind. Sombre memorials and the landing of canoes to mark Canada’s……
September 30, 2023
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Manitoba founded by Métis but oppressive history soon made Indigenous premiership impossible
Last time Manitoba had an Indigenous premier was 136 years ago John Norquay was elected to the first Manitoba provincial assembly in 1870. He held……
September 30, 2023
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Indigenous voters say reconciliation in Manitoba takes more than landfill search promises
Process involves return of languages, resources and ‘bringing us to the table,’ says former youth chief A Winnipeg march on the National Day for Truth……
September 30, 2023
Education (6-12)
Step inside a residential school that’s being converted into a special space to honour survivors
WARNING: This video contains distressing details Step inside a residential school that’s being converted into a special space to honour survivors: Duration 4:31 Warning: This video……
September 30, 2023
Urban Commitments to Reconciliation
New trust lets Vancouver Island residents donate percentage of property value to First Nations projects
Donations will go directly to participating First Nations and their projects Residents in the Capital Regional District can now direct a percentage of their property……
September 30, 2023
Business and Reconciliation (92)
Ottawa needs to step up to make Indigenous economic reconciliation a reality
There’s a consensus among Indigenous investors, corporate leaders and government decision makers that federal loan guarantees are the answer to First Nation investment difficulties, writes……
September 30, 2023
Missing Children and Burial Information (71-76)
Probing the past: residential school secrets and archival challenges
How do we balance privacy legislation with the public’s right to know? The red honour roll is based on the national student registry. Photo: Danielle……
September 30, 2023
Missing Children and Burial Information (71-76)
Orange Shirt Day: Canada faces rise in residential school denialism
Hate speech and confrontations are growing over the truth about missing children, graves and genocide People attend the second annual Orange Shirt Day Survivors Walk……
September 30, 2023
Call to Action # 80
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation marked with song, marches, powwows across Canada
Events honour residential school survivors, promote reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples How Orange Shirt Day has evolved: Duration 5:25 Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for non-Indigenous people……
September 30, 2023
Sports and Reconciliation (87-91)
New hockey sticks aim to spark conversation about Every Child Matters movement in Canada
Stick designers from Sask. hope they can spread awareness Some of the Every Child Matters sticks at Extreme Hockey and Sports in Regina. Thousands of……
September 29, 2023
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
1763
Royal Proclamation of 1763 – The Indian “Magna Carta”
The Royal Proclamation gave ownership of North America to King George but also explicitly affirmed that Aboriginal title existed and continued to exist. The proclamation also defined how Aboriginal land would be protected by treaty
1764
Treaty of Niagara
In July and August 1764, Sir William Johnson representing the Crown, along with approximately 2,000 Indigenous leaders, representing approximately 24 First Nations, met at Niagara to discuss an “alliance with the English.” The Treaty established Indigenous sovereignty over their lands. The federal government which doesn’t recognize the treaty, disagrees.
1867
The British North America Act, 1867
Founding act that created Canada and transferred all authority for Indians to the federal government who began their assimilation policies designed to eliminate Indigenous culture, language, spirituality and legal traditions primarily through the forced removal of Indigenous children from their homes to attend residential schools
1876
The Indian Act
The Indian Act was enacted to control virtually every aspect of an Indigenous person’s life and its restrictive and oppressive policies and laws were amended over time to squelch any sign of Indigenous resistance or challenge to the authority of the federal government
1963
The Hawthorne Report: A Survey of the Contemporary Indians of Canada: Economic, Political, Educational Needs and Policies. Volumes 1 and 2
Conclusion was that Aboriginal peoples were Canada’s most disadvantaged and marginalized population. They were “citizens minus.” Hawthorn attributed this to years of failed government policy, particularly the residential school system which left students unprepared for participation in the contemporary economy
1969
The White Paper; Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian policy
Proposed ending the special legal relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Canadian state and dismantling the Indian Act. Many Aboriginal peoples viewed the new policy statement as the culmination of Canada’s long-standing goal to assimilate Indians into mainstream Canadian society
1983
Penner Report
Recommended the implementation of Indian self-government and the phasing out of programs of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development relating to Indian people over a period of five years
1996
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
The five-volume landmark document outlined 440 recommendations on Indigenous governance, nation rebuilding, lands and resources, treaties, economic development, and social policy, and called for the renewal of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and all orders of government in Canada. Few of the recommendations were implemented.
2005
Kelowna Accord
A negotiated agreement between all stakeholder groups – Indigenous, Federal, Provincial and Territory governments with specific measurements, timelines and budgets to “Close the Gap” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. Never implemented by Prime Minister Harper after winning the 2006 election
2015
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
One of the recommendations from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People, the TRC issued 94 Calls to Action directed at all levels of government and a broad cross-section of society to finally address the historical and contemporary wrongs inflicted on Indigenous people by successive government policies and institutional racism and discrimination. As of April 4, 2022 11 of the 94 Calls to Action have been completed (8 of them by the federal government)
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: September 1, 2023
Continue readingWhat’s New in Indigenous Watchdog: 201 new entries Aug. 1 – Aug. 31,2023
66 Positive Actions = vs 98 Current Problems Calls to Action (C2A) Status: August 1, 2023 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