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 December 1, 2024 36% of the 94 TRC Calls to Action are either NOT STARTED or STALLED? Why?
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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
Food Insecurity
Northern stores ‘absolutely not’ hiking food costs when federal funding arrives, says CEO
Dan McConnell says his company is looking to lower food prices During a shareholder meeting, North West Co. Inc.’s Dan McConnell says the company is……
December 11, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami call for resolution to Canada Post strike
Remote communities dependent on Canada Post ‘effectively cut off,’ says ITK president The post office in Iqaluit in August 2020. (Matisse Harvey/Radio Canada) CBC Indigenous: With……
December 11, 2024
Justice (25-42)
Leaders of search-the-landfill movement awarded King Charles III Coronation medals
Cambria Harris, Jorden Myran raised voices for own relatives and all affected by MMIWG2S, citation says Cambria Harris, daughter of Morgan Harris, holds up her……
December 11, 2024
Justice (25-42)
Officer receives suspension after Mi’kmaw elver fishers left without boots
Two men arrested and released in only socked feet after fishing for baby eels earlier this year in Shelburne Baby eels swim in a plastic……
December 11, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Poilievre’s ‘Santa Claus’ quip trivialized Inuit presence in Arctic, says national Inuit leader
There’s more to relieving tensions in Arctic than icebreakers and guns, Natan Obed sayso In a weekend social media post, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre questioned……
December 10, 2024
Environment
Nine wind projects rolled out to meet B.C.’s surging clean energy demands
Canada’s National Observer: Premier David Eby said nine new wind projects co-owned by First Nations will maintain B.C.’s competitive clean energy advantage in global markets,……
December 10, 2024
Health (18-24)
He was removed from his community for weeks for a psych evaluation. His family says there must be a better way
Hundreds supported return of Pone Shecanapish, who is non-verbal, to Kawawachikamach, Que. The family of Gilles-Francis Pone Shecanapish initiated a petition advocating for his return……
December 10, 2024
Environment
On thinning ice, Labrador Inuit are taking the fight against climate change into their own hands
ON THIN ICE: Arctic sea ice routes are a vital connector for Labrador Inuit peoples. As the ice begins to melt, old traditions fuse with innovation to……
December 10, 2024
Child Welfare (1-5)
AFN says it’s not prepared to implement chiefs’ child welfare direction
Says there is a “lack of clear source funding” APTN News: The Canadian Press – The Assembly of First Nations is warning it’s not equipped……
December 10, 2024
Justice (25-42)
New docuseries examines life and death of Annie Mae Pictou Aquash
The “true crime” show looks at the violent death of Aquash that went unsolved for 30 years. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1038018585?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: It has been 49 years……
December 10, 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?
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: December 1, 2024
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