A CALL TO ACTION
Symposium continues work of Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Truth and Reconciliation Commission comes to Membertou.
Next steps in the implementation of calls to action recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are being taken this week in Membertou.
The Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative is hosting a symposium through Friday that has brought together representatives and leaders from the Mi’kmaw community, government and organizations that have a role in addressing those calls.
“There’s been a lot of work already happening,” said Senator Dan Christmas, the lead facilitator for the symposium,
“One of the things you will hear during the next two and a half days is a bit of a report of what’s been done to date and then, of course, we will get into other issues.”
Things already happening prior to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report have included justice, language and child welfare symposiums, he said.
This symposium is billed as a chance to look at progress on all 94 calls to action, produce a work plan to implement them, strengthen relationships and provide a better understanding of priority areas.
Christmas said seven working committees served as sounding boards to help narrow down symposium topics from the 94 calls to action.
“We worked with them to say in the field of education, for instance, what’s the most important topic.
“The answer was treaty education and then we have a
problem with early childhood education in Nova Scotia. Those two became the two issues brought forward in education.”
He said a similar “funnelling” process helped with other parts of the agenda.
Though there is much to be
done, Chief Sidney Peters of Glooscap First Nation and the main chief of the assembly, said implementing recommendations is not something that should be rushed.
“The chiefs have said that we want to ensure that something comes out of this that is tangible,” he said. “It’s going to be a working document, it’s going to be a work plan.”
Something with timelines and milestones, he said, will act as a report card that can show what is working and what is not working.
Nova Scotia Justice Minister Mark Furey also noted work accomplished prior to the symposium.
“The province itself has
developed a cultural action plan where the identity of the Mi’kmaq First Nations community is a priority,” he said.
A new specialized court that allows residents of Wagmatcook and Waycobah communities to access culturally sensitive court services is another example, he noted.
Day 1 agenda included calls to action regarding child welfare, education, culture and language.
Justice, business and sport are on the Day 2 agenda, while roles of municipalities, community organizations and universities and colleges will be part of Friday activities.