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 June 1, 2024 36% 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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Featured Updates
Protecting beneficiaries ahead of the Robinson-Huron Treaty annuities payments
The Robinson-Huron Treaty payments are expected to be life changing, hopefully for the better Delegates from the government of Ontario, Canada and the 21 Robin-Huron……
July 25, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Why Rustad’s Reckless Indigenous Policy Would Be Disastrous
A Green MLA says the Conservative leader’s approach is wrong, costly and economically destructive. Green MLA Adam Olsen celebrates the introduction of a bill acknowledging……
July 25, 2024
Treaties and Land Claims
Feds pay First Nation in B.C. $147M over loss of water rights
First Nation dug irrigation ditch on reserve land in the 1890s but was told it had to stop Kukpi7 Fred Robbins and Esk’etemc community members……
July 25, 2024
Missing Children and Burial Information (71-76)
Senate report calls for Canada to compel Catholic entities to release residential school records
Report’s 11 recommendations also urges numerous government agencies to comply Approximately 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children were removed from their families between approximately……
July 25, 2024
Drinking Water Advisories
Drinking water advisory on Star Blanket Cree Nation lifted after 17 years
‘Seventeen years is a really long time to live in fear of water,’ says Indigenous Services Canada Minister Chief Michael Starr and Indigenous Services Minister……
July 25, 2024
Environment
Can a lake become a person in law? A B.C. First Nation wants to find out
The concept of personhood for elements of nature is not new. The Sumas valley in late November 2021 after flooding temporarily turned it back into……
July 25, 2024
Education (6-12)
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: law society
By The Canadian Press Lawyer Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafonde most “likely” has Indigenous ancesty, according to a DNA test. Photo: APTN News APTN News: The Law Society……
July 25, 2024
Justice (25-42)
Victims’ families lose bid to fight Pickton evidence destruction
https://player.vimeo.com/video/989194291?badge=0&autopause=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: Family members of the victims of B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton are once again left disappointed in their fight for justice. They……
July 24, 2024
Health (18-24)
After 50 years of waiting, Little Bone opens new community centre
The Chief Little Bone Community Centre opened on July 19 The ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Chief Little Bone Community Centre took place on……
July 23, 2024
Environment
Yukon mine inspector directs Victoria Gold to shore up water treatment efforts
The Eagle Gold Mine in Yukon. Photo: Victoria Gold Corp. APTN News: The Canadian Press – A Yukon mine inspector has ordered Victoria Gold to……
July 23, 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: July 1, 2024
Continue readingWhat’s New in Indigenous Watchdog: 179 new Entries: June 1 – June 30, 2024
Calls to Action (C2A) Status: July 1, 2024 Not Started Stalled In Progress Complete 15 19 46 14 16% 20% 49% 15% 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, 47, 55, 56, 89 Stalled 6, 8, 12,
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