What’s New in Indigenous Watchdog: Updates Jan. 1 – 31 2023


Calls to Action (C2A) Status: Jan. 31, 2023

Not StartedStalledIn ProgressComplete
14214613
14.9%22.3%48.9%13.8%
StatusLegacy Calls to Action
(1-42) + 50-52, 62-65
Reconciliation Calls to Action
(43-94)
Not Started2, 9, 26, 34, 42, 51, 52, 6445, 46, 47, 55, 56, 89
Stalled6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 29, 30, 3258, 62, 71, 77, 78, 87, 92, 93
Complete13, 15, 4149, 59, 67, 68, 70, 80, 83, 84, 85, 94
Legacy Calls to Action include “Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System” (50-52) and “Education for Reconciliation (62-65) in order to keep all “Justice” and “Education” Calls to Action in one location

See also “Perspectives” post for a complete 6-page colour-coded document summarizing all 94 Calls to Action

Indigenous Watchdog Updates

They following presents a year-to-date statistical snapshot of stakeholder actions across ALL themes that are either advancing reconciliation (Legacy and Reconciliation C2As and Government Commitments) or creating roadblocks (Current Problems)

Section20202021Jan. 31Feb. 28Mar. 31Apr. 30YTD
Current Reality26474
Current Problems18921358
Legacy C2As9615926
Reconciliation C2As55883
Govt. Commitments3
Total36650794
Other Issues13
Indigenous Success Stories9

Notes:

  • Current Reality includes ALL 94 Calls to Action
  • Legacy C2As, Reconciliation C2As and Government Commitments represent positive steps that advance reconciliation
  • Current Problems includes all “Calls to Action” plus “Other Issues” and “Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
  • “Other Issues” presents information on Drinking Water Advisories, Food Insecurity, Urban Commitments to Reconciliation, Housing, Environment and Treaties and Land Claims

New Sections

SectionCall to Action ThemeWhere located
First Nations Wellness InitiativeHealthC2A # 18 – Background Content
How Ground Penetrating Radar Works?Missing ChildrenHome Page – Background Content
Women Transforming Cities (WTC)Urban CommitmentsHome Page – Background Content
Land Back MovementTreaties & Land ClaimsHome Page – Background Content
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
JurisdictionDateIndigenous
Group
BCJan. 4FN, M, IIncreased funding for Human Rights Tribunal will make justice more accessible
BCJan. 20FNAnnounces Cumulative Impact Agreements with Treaty 8 First Nations
BCJan. 23FNBC First Nations strike landmark deals governing development of their ancestral lands
Current Problems with Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
JurisdictionDateDescription
FederalJan. 12Rights group releases scathing report on Canada’s violations of Indigenous rights
Nfld & LabradorJan. 16Qualipu First Nation enrolment controversy reaches ‘pivotal point’ as court challenge begins
New BrunswickJan. 11Higgs ‘New Partnership’ plan highlights gulf in understanding with First Nations
SaskatchewanJan. 19Dealing with “Saskatchewan First Act” one of Treaty Commissioners top priorities for 2023
ManitobaJan. 27Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) urges Prime Minister to include First Nation leaders in health meetings

Legacy Calls to Action

CHILD WEFARE
Home Page – Current Reality
Update to “Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT)”
Jan. 25: Update timelines around Final Settlement Agreement
Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Jordan’s Principle”
Jan. 1: Denial rates of services and supports for First Nation’s children varied by region during the pandemic
Update to “Government and Institution Issues”: Alberta
Jan. 4: Cree girl who died should never have been taken by Children’s Services, Albert judge finds
Update to “Systemic Racism”: Manitoba
Jan. 6: Sixties Scoop survivor reconnects with birth mom, discovers her culture, decades after separation
Update to “Bill C-92”: Québec, Manitoba, Alberta, Northwest Territories
Sept. 20, 2022: Indigenous jurisdiction and Bill C-92 at the Supreme Court of Canada
Jan. 2: 2023 will be a pivotal year for Indigenous child welfare on both sides of the border
Update to Child and Youth Advocate Reports”: Manitoba
Jan. 17: Manitoba still hasn’t acted on some recommendations to protect kids, advocate says
Update to “Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT)
Jan. 25: Ottawa to begin ‘intense’ talks to rewrite First Nations child welfare compensation deal

Education

Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Indigenous Identity”: BC
Jan. 3: Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond no longer employed by UBC
Jan. 18: UBC regrets its handling of Turpel-Lafond ancestry concerns
Update to “Indigenous History”
Jan. 13: Poilievre delivers speech to group criticized for residential school ‘denialism’
Update to ‘Systemic Racism”: Alberta
Jan. 25: Fewer than half of Indigenous students graduate on time from Edmonton Public High Schools
Update to “Systemic Racism”: Québec
Jan. 31: Québec Education Minister’s Priorities: Bernard Drainville must intervene to decolonize education laws that undermine First Nations autonomy
Call to Action # 6

Repeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code

Update to “Bill C-273 and Bill S-251”
Jan. 24: Hitting Children is still legal in Canada. These lawmakers want to change that
Call to Action # 12

All levels of government to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs

Update to “Provincial/Territory Commitments to ECE”: Ontario
Jan. 4: Niagara College joins forces with three groups to train teachers of Indigenous students
Update to “Provincial/Territory Commitments to ECE”: Federal
Jan. 31: Call for proposals to help support high quality Indigenous early learning and childcare

EDUCATION FOR RECONCILIATION

Call to Action # 65

Federal government through SSHRC to establish a National Research Program with multi-year funding

Update to “University Actions”
Jan. 25: University of Toronto research ‘collaboratory’ uses global lens to pursue community-based Indigenous research

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Home Page – Background Content
Update to “Indigenous Cultural Success”
Jan. 1: Traditional winter dances make their way back into Indigenous communities after COVID-19 restrictions lifted
Jan. 4: Marking 1st ever National Ribbon Skirts Day in Northern Ontario
Jan. 24: What would a $20 bill look like if it had an Indigenous woman front and centre
Jan. 28: How Indigenous people are strengthening fur traditions in an anti-fur world
Jan. 29: Dakota Nation Winterfest strengthens traditions, emboldens youth
Update to “Indigenous Languages in Canada”:
Jan. 17: Trailblazing Indigenous language program brings Ojibwa into schools
Jan. 19: Ottawa’s Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway to get an Indigenous name
Jan. 20: Pewaseskwan at University of Saskatchewan supports Nehiyawak (Cree) language and culture revitalization in Saskatchewan First Nations
Jan. 23: Alberta First Nation school finds textbook way to keep Indigenous language alive

HEALTH

Home Page – Current Reality
Update to Three National Dialogues after death of Joyce Echaquan
Jan. 25: No leader from any of the national Indigenous advocacy groups has been invited to participate in the National Health Funding meetings scheduled for Feb. 7 in Ottawa
Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Health Care Reform: Alberta
Jan. 9: Delay in counselling therapist regulator hindering access for Indigenous people in Alberta
Update to “Health Care Reform”: Federal
Jan. 25: First Nations group upset with exclusion from healthcare funding talks (scheduled for Ottawa on Feb. 7)
Update to “Ongoing Health Crisis”: Inuit Nunangat
Jan. 30: RSV is still a threat, especially in Canada’s north. But new treatments and vaccines are on the way
Call to Action # 18

All levels of government to recognize and implement healthcare rights of Indigenous people

Update to “Government Recognition of Indigenous Rights to Health”: Nunavut
Jan. 10: The Department of Health is developing a “Territorial Client and Family Engagement Plan” on healthcare services
NEW SECTION: “First Nations Wellness Initiatives” (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: CAMH)
Jan. 18: First Nations community engagement leads to the development of evidence and community-informed wellness strategies
Call to Action # 19

All levels of Government to establish measurable goals to identify and close health gaps

Update to “Why Stalled?”
Jan. 25, 2023: First Nations groups are criticizing their exclusion from an upcoming meeting between federal, provincial and territorial governments aiming to reach a funding deal to improve the country’s ailing health-care system
Call to Action # 21

Federal Government to provide ongoing funding for existing and new Aboriginal Healing Centres

Updates to “Investments in Indigenous Healing Centres”: Manitoba
Jan. 24: Manitoba government invests $893,000 for new Indigenous-led Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine Clinic
Call to Action # 22

All leaders within the healthcare system to recognize value of Indigenous healing practices and use them

Update to “Indigenous Healing Practices”: Yukon
Jan. 20: Statement on “Substance Use Health Emergency” from Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee
Call to Action # 23

All levels of government to increase hiring and retention of Indigenous healthcare workers

Update to “Retention and Growth of Health Care Workers”: Saskatchewan
Jan. 26: More health care workers on track to join Saskatchewan’s Health Care system
JUSTICE
Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Systemic Racism in RCMP”
Jan. 4: ‘I didn’t know what racism was until I joined’. The RCMP has a systemic problem. But what is being done?
Update to “Systemic Racism in RCMP”
Jan. 9: RCMP has spent nearly $50M on policing pipeline, logging standoffs in BC
Update to “Systemic Racism in RCMP”
Jan. 25: RCMP misses deadline for employees to complete mandatory anti-racism training
Update to “Systemic Racism”: Alberta
Jan. 4: Alberta man who killed Métis hunters sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole for 13 years
Jan. 30: Mandatory Indigenous course at risk after group of lawyers aim to change Law Society rules
Update to “Systemic Racism”: Saskatchewan
Jan. 17: Bail hearing scheduled for Saskatchewan sisters who say they were wrongfully convicted
Update to “Court Challenges”: Federal, Saskatchewan
Jan. 24: Métis survivors sue Saskatchewan, Canada over residential school
Homer Page – Background Content
Update to “Thunder Bay Inquest”
Jan. 17: Thunder Bay police chief resigns ahead of discreditable conduct hearing
Call to Action # 27

Federation of Law Societies of Canada to ensure lawyers receive cultural competency & Indigenous tights training

Update to “Why In Progress?”
Jan. 30: Fifty lawyers have signed a petition for the repeal of the Law Society of Alberta’s rule 67.4 which mandates lawyers take a 5-hour course “The Path” on Indigenous relations
Call to Action # 29

Federal government and Parties to the Settlement Agreement to reach agreements with those excluded from the IRSSA

Update to “Settlement Agreements for those excluded from IRSSA”: “Indian Boarding Schools”
Jan. 3: Ottawa, plaintiffs agree to settle ‘Indian boarding homes” class action
Jan. 9: Indian Boarding Home’ survivors in the north eligible to receive thousands of dollars in compensation
Jan. 17: Minister won’t say if Indian Boarding Home settlement will include apology to survivors
Jan. 19: ‘Major concerns’ were flagged in Indian Boarding Home system for years, records show
Update to “Settlement Agreements for those excluded From IRSSA”: Indian Day Schools
Jan. 11: As extension period for Indian Day Schools settlement comes to an end, concerns remain
Jan 21: Ottawa announces $2.8B to settle remaining part of BC Day scholar laws
Jan. 23: Settlement agreement reached for Band class litigation
Update to “Settlement Agreements for those excluded From IRSSA”: Métis Nation
Jan. 24: Métis Nation survivors sue Saskatchewan, Canada over residential school
Call to Action # 30

All levels of government to commit to eliminate overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody

Update to “Govt. Actions to Reduce Overrepresentation of Indigenous People”: BC
Jan. 4: B.C.’s top court broadens sentencing law aimed at reducing Indigenous incarceration rates
Update to “Govt. Actions to Reduce Overrepresentation of Indigenous People”: Federal
Jan. 13: Ottawa laying groundwork for Indigenous Justice Systems, says Lametti
Call to Action # 31

All level of government to provide stable funding to implement alternatives to imprisonment

Update to “Government Commitments to Restorative Justice Programs”: BC
Jan. 4: B.C.’s top court broadens sentencing law aimed at reducing Indigenous incarceration rates
Update to “Update to “Government Commitments to Restorative Justice Programs”: Ontario
Jan. 11: Legal Aid Ontario and Aboriginal Legal Services sign new service agreements
Update to ‘Indigenous-led Restorative Justice Initiatives: QC
Jan. 19: Court ordered community hours go towards healing in Indigenous-led justice effort in Montreal
Call to Action # 33

All levels of government to develop culturally relevant FASD prevention programs

Update to ‘Government Commitments to FASD Programs”: Manitoba
Jan. 4:Walking Together” – For nearly two decades, this Manitoba organization has been helping people with FASD build a life they’re proud of
Call to Action # 41

Appoint public inquiry into MMIWG

Update to “Government Commitments to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women”: Federal
Jan. 10: Ottawa announces progress on two MMIWG Inquiry Calls to Justice
Update to “Government Commitments to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women”: Federal
Jan. 10: Government of Canada appoints a Ministerial Special Representative and an Indigenous led organization to address Calls to Justice
Call to Action # 42

All levels of government to commit to recognize and implement Aboriginal Justice Systems

Update to “Actions and Commitments”: Federal
Jan. 13: Ottawa laying groundwork for Indigenous Justice Systems, says Lametti

Reconciliation Calls to Action

CHURCH APOLOGIES

Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Indigenous Responses to Pope’s Apology
Jan. 5: Reflection: Pope’s apology was historic, but did it matter?

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Call to Action # 66

Federal government to provide multi-year funding for community-based youth programs

Update to “Actions and Commitments”: Northwest Territories
Jan. 26: Youth-led House of Hope in Tuktoyaktuk in NWT spearheading friendship and connection

MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES

Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Outdated Prime Minister Biographies”
Jan. 14: What should Queen’s Park do with its statue of John A. MacDonald
Update to “Repatriating Indigenous artefacts”
Jan. 26: Thousands of artefacts to be returned to First Nations after years boxed away in an Ottawa building

MISSING CHILDREN

Home Page – Current Reality
Update to “Unmarked Residential School Graves” Table
Jan. 13: Added Qu’Appelle IRS at Star Blanket Cree Nation
Jan. 17: Added St. Mary’s IRS at Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
Jan. 25: Updated St. Joseph’s IRS at Williams Lake First Nations
Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Discoveries of Unmarked Graves”: Saskatchewan
Jan. 13: Radar search finds more than 2,000 anomalies at Saskatchewan residential school site
Jan. 13: Ground search of Saskatchewan First Nation gets 2,000 ‘hits’, more work required to determine which are graves
Update to ‘Discoveries at Unmarked Graves: Ontario
Jan. 17: ‘A tragic first for Ontario’: 171 plausible burials found at Kenora residential school site
Update to “Discoveries of Unmarked Graves”: Alberta
Jan. 24: Tainted milk led to deaths of Alberta residential school children, group says
Update to “Discoveries of Unmarked Graves”: BC
Jan. 25: 66 more potential burial sites discovered at former BC residential school
Update to “Challenges for Special Interlocutor”
Jan. 18: Residential school records needed to answer ‘hard questions’: Special Interlocutor
Home Page – Background Content
NEW SECTION: How Ground Penetrating Radar Works?
Jan. 19: How ground-penetrating radar is used to find unmarked graves at residential schools
Call to Action # 76

All levels of government to commit to Indigenous residential school cemeteries principles and protocols

Update to “Special Interlocutor”
Jan. 12: “Moving from Our Heads to Our Hearts to Our Hands: Summary Report of the National Gathering on Unmarked Burials: Supporting the Search and Recovery of Missing Children” released by the Independent Special Interlocutor

BUSINESS AND RECONCILIATION

Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Government Programs”: New Brunswick
Jan. 13: Madawaska First Nation wins Casino Revenue Sharing Case
Update to”Individual Business Issues”: Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador
Jan. 25: Indigenous group sues Canada utility for $1.6B over dam
Home Page – Background Content
Update to “Indigenous-led Initiatives”:
Jan. 18: Chief Crystal Smith: First Nations want an energy future, not eco-colonialism
Update to “Indigenous-led Initiatives”
Jan. 26: Tahltan Nation and Nisga’a Nation announce new partnership that will maximize economic benefits at the Seabridge KSM Project
Update on “Perspectives on Duty to Consult”
Jan. 24: Poilievre announces consultations with First Nations on resource revenues
Call to Action # 92

Corporate Canada to adopt UNDRIP as a reconciliation framework, apply to policy and operations

Update to “Perspectives on Duty to Consult“: BC
Jan. 18: First Nation can veto proposed BC coal mine as part of a unique deal with developer

Other Issues

DRINKING WATER ADVISORIES
Home Page – Current Reality
Update Infographic and Long-Term DWA Table
Jan. 5: 137 Long-Term DWAs lifted. Currently 33 Long-term DWAs in 29 First Nation communities for an 81% completion rate
Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Long Term DWAs”
Jan. 1: Make this the year of safe and clean water on every First Nation reserve
Update to ““Long Term DWAs”
Jan. 9: Currently 33 Long-term DWAs in 29 First Nation communities: Saskatchewan (5), Manitoba (3) and Ontario (21)
Update to “Drinking Water Emergencies”: Ontario
Jan. 23: Feds commitment to Oneida water supply met with hope and uncertainty
URBAN COMMITMENTS TO RECONCILIATION
Home Page: Background Content
Update to “Individual Municipal Commitments”: Ontario
Jan. 4: Midland and Penetanguishene commit to strengthening relationships with First Nations and Métis communities
NEW SECTION: Women Transforming Cities (WTC)
Jan. 13: WTC releases “The TRC Calls to Action in BC Municipalities
FOOD INSECURITY
Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Food Insecurity Strategies”: Nunavut
Jan. 12: Kivalliq Wildlife Board secures $800,000 to study food insecurity, climate change
HOUSING
Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Federal Budgets”
Jan. 9: Indigenous group seeks control of $300M housing fund
Update to “Fire Prevention on Reserves”
Jan. 23: ‘No partners willing’ to support fire codes on First Nations, Ottawa says
Update to “Fire Prevention on Reserves”: Ontario
Jan. 31: 10-year old girl killed in fire in remote Cree northern Ontario community with no fire services
Home Page – Background Content
Update to “Fire protection on Reserves”: Yukon
Jan. 6: Work progresses on strengthening fire services in Keno, Ross River, Old Crow and other Yukon communities
ENVIRONMENT
Home Page – Current Problems
Update to :”Environmental Impacts”
Jan. 4:The Sacred Balance: Learning From Indigenous Peoples“: article by David Suzuki
Update to :”Environmental Impacts”: Federal, BC
Jan. 16: Federal fisheries officers investigate Coastal GasLInk pipeline project
Update to Environmental Impacts”: Yukon
Jan 17: Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Na-Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation express disappointment in the Yukon’s governments policy for the stewardship of wetlands
Update to Environmental Impacts”: BC
Jan. 20: BC announces cumulative impact agreements with Treaty 8 First Nations
Jan. 20: ‘Crush you like a bug’: BC Hydro’s Site C lawsuit targets farmers, First Nations
Update to Environmental Impacts”: Alberta
Jan. 26: First Nations say Alberta’s oilsands mine security reform unlikely to fix problems
Update to “Climate Change”: Federal
Jan. 17: Open Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau on perpetuating climate injustice against First Nations
Update to “Climate Change”:
Jan. 25: Caribou summit asks a burning questions: What’s the future of the Porcupine Caribou herd?
Home Page – Background Content
Update to “Climate Change”: Yukon
Jan. 10: A policy for the stewardship of Yukon’s Wetlands released
Update to “Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE)
Jan. 24: First Nations declares protected area in northern BC’s Taku River watershed
Update to “International Environmental issues”
Jan. 24: The legal implications of the 2022 Canada-Denmark/Greenland Agreement on Hans Island (Tartupaluk) fir the Inuit peoples of Greenland and Nunavut
Update to “Government Commitments to the Environment”: Ontario
Jan. 26: Government of Canada to protect nature in Ontario
Jan. 31: Ontario announces new First Nations Partnership to operate Mississagi Provincial Park
Update to “Government Commitments to the Environment”: BC
Jan. 25: ‘Rarest of the rare’: B.C.s newest conservancy protects globally imperilled rain forest

TREATIES AND LAND CLAIMS

Home Page – Current Problems
Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title”: Manitoba
Jan. 7: Here are 3 places to watch the Land Back movement unfold in 2023
Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title”: BC
Jan. 9: Indigenous Land Defenders criminalized, surveiled and harassed as pipeline continues on Wet’suwet’en territory. Amnesty International
Jan. 11: RCMP, Coastal GasLink deny conspiring to intimidate, harass Wet’suwet’en members
Jan. 23: BC, First Nations strike landmark deals covering development on their ancestral lands
Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title”: Saskatchewan
Jan. 26: Saskatchewan does have a constitution ; it’s called Treaty
Update to “Supreme Court”: Robinson-Huron Superior Treaty
Jan. 18: Canada, Ontario and Robinson Huron Treaty Leadership Alliance announce two-week mediation
Jan. 31: Dollar value of resources to be debated as final stage of treaty annuities trial begins
Update to “Court Challenges”: Newfoundland and Labrador
Jan. 16: Qalipu First Nation enrolment controversy reaches ‘pivotal’ point’ as court challenge begins
Jan. 26: Indigenous identity at core of Qalipu membership challenge trial in St. John’s
Home Page – Background Content
Update to “Historical Treaties in Canada”
Dec. 15: Interactive treaty education facility Agowiidiwinan Centre opens at the Forks in Winnipeg
NEW SECTION: Land Back Movement
Jan. 10: Whose Land are You On? What to know about the Indigenous Land Back Movement: Lindsey Schneider
Update to “Comprehensive Claims and Modern Treaties”
Jan. 31: 2 provincial parks in B.C. being considered as part of treaty settlement with First Nations

INDIGENOUS SUCCESS STORIES

ThemeDateIndigenous GroupComment
BusinessJan. 2First NationFrom pollution to power: Canada’s first Indigenous-owned bioenergy facility opens
Jan. 9First NationIndsights: A window into the Indigenous economy is producing case studies to be used in the classroom
SportsJan. 6First NationIndigenous hockey sticks gifted to 2023 world junior players
Drinking WaterJan. 6First NationPartners extend collaboration to provide essential skills, water treatment training to Indigenous learners
Government Commitments Jan. 10First NationPE: Statement by Premier Dennis King on the passing of Keptin John Joe Sark
Jan. 23First NationBC First Nations strike landmark deals governing development of their ancestral land
Jan. 31MétisAB: New Métis book puts spotlight on reconciliation
Museums and ArchivesJan. 26First NationOttawa’s Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway to get an Indigenous name
Treaties and Land ClaimsJan. 27First NationB.C. transfers land back to Lake Babeen, benefits the region

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