Municipal Calls to Action

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report calls on municipalities to deliver specific outcomes for the following 5 Calls to Action:

Call to Action	Description	Specific Outcome
C2A # 43	UN Declaration (UNDRIP)	Fully adopt and implement UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation
C2A # 47	Royal Proclamation and Covenant	Repudiate Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius
C2A # 57	PD and Training for Public Servants	Provide education to civil servants on Indigenous issues, histories and treaties
C2A # 75	Missing Children and Burial Information	Develop and implement strategies and procedures for ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration and protection of residential school cemeteries
C2A # 77	National Centre for Truth and reconciliation	All archives to collaborate with National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation on collection of all records

City of Ottawa Reconciliation Action Plan

In June 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its findings and 94 Calls to Action to redress the residential schools legacy and advance the reconciliation process in Canada. The Calls to Action are directed at all levels of government, the private sector and to Canadians as a whole.

In February 2018, the Reconciliation Action Plan was approved. This plan addresses the TRC Calls to Action and confirms the City’s commitment to reconciliation. The plan is a direct result of a relationship built on trust and collaboration between the City, the Indigenous communities in Ottawa and many community partners. It includes 14 actions in the areas of:

Culture

1. Complete and launch an Algonquin Anishinabe Civic Cultural Protocol
2. Establish a permanent presence of the Algonquin Anishinabe Host Nation Flags in Council Chambers and in Marion Dewar Plaza ay Ottawa City Hall
3. Participate in the development of a “Reconciling History” Walking Tour spearheaded vu First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, with Indigenous community members and other public and private sector partners
4. Develop a process to respectfully acquire and display art from Indigenous artists into the City of Ottawa Art Collection
5. Encourage the use and visibility of Indigenous languages
6. Identify and set priorities for allocating cultural funding to support initiatives from the public, which contribute tin the reconciliation process.
7. Create Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training modules for municipal and elected officials
8. Engage Algonquin Anishinabe Nation, First Nations, Inuit and Métis representatives in the development of the City of Ottawa‘s Commemoration Policy. The policy will also explore a Naming Process for rooms in municipal buildings to honour Algonquin Anishinabe Host Nation, First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and languages.

Employment

• Implement specific strategies to increase the number of Aboriginal people employees at the City of Ottawa, through:
  • New culturally meaningful outreach and recruitment;
  • Promoting best practices in hiring and selection of Aboriginal Peoples through the City’s diversity and Inclusion program; and
  • Increasing the number of employments and skills building information sessions to Aboriginal students and adults to increase awareness of City employment opportunities

Children’s Services

1. Integrated System Planning led by local Indigenous child care and child and family service providers. This included planning to address needs, gaps and opportunities for new or enhanced culturally responsive and indigenous-led programs and services for indigenous children and families in Ottawa

Education and Awareness Building

1. City departments participate on the Aboriginal Working Committee
2. Promote a standard process to honour Algonquin Unceded Territory at the opening of City events
3. Provide cultural awareness and learning opportunities each year to help City departments wbuilt capacity to deliver culturally appropriate services
4. Host annual Aboriginal Awareness Day learning and awareness-raising event to commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day

Ottawa Public Health and the Ottawa Public Library are also working to implement the TRC calls to action. Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has drafted a Reconcili-ACTION Plan to respond to the health related TRC Calls to Action. Ottawa Public Library released a TRC report in February 2018 that includes recommendations for action, including implementing a visual land acknowledgement program at all OPL locations.

The City of Ottawa’s Anishinabe Algonquin Nation Civic Cultural Protocol and Implementation Plan is an approved action within the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan. The inaugural Implementation Plan was developed by the Cultural Development and Initiatives Unit with the participation and collaboration of the following City of Ottawa service areas: 

City Archives, Community Recreation and Cultural Programs, Cultural Funding Support, Cultural and Heritage Programs and Spaces, Office of Protocol and Intergovernmental Affairs, Public Art Program, Public Information and Media Relations (Events and Communications) and the Ottawa Public Library

City of Ottawa Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation: 2.5 out of 5 = 50%

Call to Action # 43       The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal Peoples We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation

Partial UNDRIP is acknowledged but how it will be made actionable/implemented still remains unclear. Ottawa’s protocol is seated in an Aboriginal right to self-determination and self-government. The City of Ottawa’s Anishinabe Algonquin Nation Civic Cultural Protocol and Implementation Plan states: “The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous peoples. The Declaration was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007. The Canadian government officially adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in May 2016.”(March 2, 2022). The cultural protocol and implementation plan refers to UNDRIP as a “guideline” primarily for Partnership Areas Connected to Arts, Heritage and Culture

Call to Action # 47       The Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.

No. Not explicitly addressed. “The protocol expresses mutual commitment and will guide positive working relationships. It is not intended to affect interpretation of the rights, legal obligations or jurisdiction of the City of Ottawa nor of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation.” p.8

Call to Action # 57       Professional Development and Training for Civil Servants We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Limited and not mandatory for everyone.  Ottawa delivers “Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training”, a series of online training modules, for municipal staff and elected officials”. The Reconciliation Action Plan commits to:  7. Create Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training modules for municipal staff and elected officials 11. City departments participate on the Aboriginal Working Committee.  12. Promote a standard process to honour Algonquin Unceded Territory at the opening of City events. 13. Provide cultural awareness and learning opportunities each year to help City departments build capacity to deliver culturally appropriate services.” (November 2018). 14. Host annual Aboriginal Awareness Day learning and awareness- raising event to commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day.  No descriptions of course content relative to the requirements for this Call to Action

Call to Action # 75       Missing Children and Burial Information We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential school students, and current landowners to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children.

Not applicable. There was no residential school in Ottawa The Residential Schools National Monument (Call to Action # 81) will be located on Parliament Hill in Ottawa when it is completed. Through the Reconciliation Action Plan (November 2018), Ottawa will:3. Participate in the development of a “Reconciling History” Walking Tour spearheaded by First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, with Indigenous community members and other public and private sector partners.”“14. Host annual Aboriginal Awareness Day learning and awareness- raising event to commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day.”

Call to Action # 77         National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal, and community archives to work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to identify and collect copies of all records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system, and to provide these to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Yes. The Anishinabe Algonquin Nation Civic Cultural Protocol and Implementation Plan  states that they are:“Work(ing) collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to identify and collect copies of all records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system, and provide these to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation” (p.46).

Other Calls to Action

Call to Action # 5        Child Welfare We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate parenting programs for Aboriginal families

Yes. Action # 10 of the Reconciliation Action Plan  Integrated System Planning led by local Indigenous child care and child and family service providers. This includes planning to address needs, gaps and opportunities for new or enhanced culturally responsive and Indigenous -led programs and services for Indigenous children and families in Ottawa. The website of the City of Ottawa describes Licensed Aboriginal Head Start programs:“Aboriginal Head Start programs provide free licensed child care spaces. These programs: * Provide a holistic approach to education * Emphasize the needs of child within Indigenous families, through the Six Head Start Principles of Education: culture, language, caregivers’ involvement, social support, health promotion and nutrition

Call to Action # 12       Education We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Aboriginal families.

Yes.  The website of the City of Ottawa describes Licensed Aboriginal Head Start programs has an education component:provide a holistic approach to educationEmphasize the needs of child within Indigenous families, through the Six Head Start Principles of – Education: culture, language, caregivers’ involvement, social support, health promotion and nutrition.

Call to Action # 17       Language and Culture We call upon all levels of government to enable residential school Survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system by waiving administrative costs for a period of five years for the name-change process and the revision of official identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers.

No. Not explicitly addressed.

Call to Action # 22       Health We call upon those who can effect change within the Canadian health-care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by Aboriginal patients.

Yes. Although not explicitly referenced in Ottawa’s Reconciliation Action Plan (November 2018):“Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is committed to advancing Indigenous health equity through actions that promote reconciliation. The OPH Reconcili-ACTION Plan was developed in consultation with OPH employees and Indigenous community partners. Designed to formally respond to the health-related Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action, the Plan was validated by Indigenous Elders and approved by the Board of Health in June 2018. Key actions in 2017 and 2018 include: * Promoting more inclusive and culturally safe spaces for First Nations, Inuit and Métis clients and employees by including Indigenous art;  * Raising awareness about the ongoing impact of colonization through: all-staff, public, and student presentations; Board of Health reports; Grand Rounds sessions; social media; and knowledge exchanges with other health care providers;  * OPH employees and Board of Health members have participated in multiple Indigenous cultural safety learning opportunities; and  * With the commitment and support of the OAC, Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team, OPH, Ottawa-based hospitals and other community-based health service agencies, activities have taken place to assist in the development of an Ottawa Indigenous Health Strategy.  Next Steps: Strengthening an OPH-wide team of Reconcili-ACTION champions, more cultural safety training for OPH employees and Board of Health, and the collaborative development of an innovative evaluation framework that captures the spirit of reconciliation.”(November, 2018, pg. 10- link)The official Ottawa Public Health Strategy 2019-2022 has as one of its 4 Core Purposes: Vision Mission Commitments: Reconciliation – We work in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and communities to advance Indigenous health equity.

Call to Action # 23       Health We call upon all levels of government to:Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health care field.Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health-care providers in Aboriginal communitiesProvide cultural competency training for all health-care professional

Yes. The # 9 commitment of the Reconciliation Action Plan (November, 2018, pg. 7) will: “Implement specific strategies to increase the number of Aboriginal people employed at the City of Ottawa, through: * New culturally meaningful outreach and recruitment; * Promoting best practices in hiring and selection of Aboriginal Peoples through the City’s Diversity and Inclusion Program; and * Increasing the number of employment and skills building information sessions to Aboriginal students and adults to increase awareness of City employment opportunities.” This is also included in the official Ottawa Indigenous Health Strategy that has as one of its 4 Core Purposes: Vision Mission Commitments: Reconciliation – We work in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and communities to advance Indigenous health equity.

Call to Action # 55       National Council We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to: * The number of Aboriginal children—including Métis and Inuit children—in care, compared with non-Aboriginal children, the reasons for apprehension, and the total spending on preventive and care services by child-welfare agencies. * Comparative funding for the education of First Nations children on and off reserves. * Educational and income attainments of Aboriginal peoples in Canada compared with non-Aboriginal people. * Progress on closing the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services. * Progress on eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in youth custody over the next decade. * Progress on reducing the rate of criminal victimization of Aboriginal people, including data related to homicide and family violence victimization and other crimes. * Progress on reducing overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in justice and correctional systems

No. Not explicitly identified in the Reconciliation Action Plan or the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation Civic Cultural Protocol and Implementation Plan.

Call to Action # 66       Youth We call upon the federal government to establish multi-year funding for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation, and establish a national network to share information and best practices.

Yes, but limited Although not explicitly identified in the Reconciliation Action Plan, a number of the cultural initiatives listed in the “Anishinabe Algonquin Nation Civic Cultural Protocol and Implementation Plan” could be applicable. Also, the Indigenous-led Child Care section of the Children’s Services section on the City of Ottawa website identifies youth related programming.Then only reference is in the See Aboriginal Relations (no date) for details of youth programs which are being provided by municipality.

Call to Action # 76       Missing Children and Burial Information We call upon the parties engaged in the work of documenting, maintaining, commemorating, and protecting residential school cemeteries to adopt strategies in accordance with the following principles: The Aboriginal community most affected shall lead the development of such strategies. Information shall be sought from residential school Survivors and other Knowledge Keepers in the development of such strategies. Aboriginal protocols shall be respected before any potentially invasive technical inspection and investigation of a cemetery site.

Not applicable. There were never any residential schools in Ottawa In response to CTA 81, the federal government will place a monument in a highly visible central location in Ottawa.

Call to Action # 87       Sports and Reconciliation We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.

No. Not explicitly addressed.

Land Acknowledgement: 

Located on “Indigenous Relations” under “Creating an Equal, Inclusive and Diverse City/City Hall”

Honouring the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory.

The peoples of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation have lived on this territory for millennia. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land.

The City of Ottawa honours the peoples and land of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation.

The City of Ottawa honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

NOTE: All content was submitted to the City of Ottawa to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The City of Ottawa did not respond to our correspondence. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Lead Researcher, Timothy Maton: Ph.D