All Canadians must work toward reconciliation
Three years ago on Saturday, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its final report with 94 Calls to Action. They were a gift to government, non-profit, business and education sectors that outline a starting point on Canada’s road to achieve reconciliation.
I was in the crowd that day when, in front of those who survived residential schools and their families, a relatively new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave us his word that he would see these Calls to Action implemented, beginning a new relationship between Indigenous communities and the rest of Canada. Following his lead, the post-secondary community, portions of industries and the charitable sector, among others, added their promises.
The last three years have seen academic conferences, business roundtables on reconciliation and government announcements. There have been great steps forward and also steps back. Regrettably, in some sectors, there have been no steps at all.
If I’m honest, I know that it’s been a tough year for Indigenous communities, particularly for Indigenous young people. We saw Gerald Stanley and Raymond Cormier, each found not guilty of killing Indigenous youth despite strong evidence to the contrary.
Indigenous youth are still being lost to such murders, or to suicide. Communities in northern Ontario, particularly Thunder Bay, refer to them as “Fallen Feathers” in homage to Tanya Talaga’s groundbreaking work. This year we also learned that Indigenous youth make up nearly 50 per cent of youth incarcerated in Canada, despite only being 8 per cent of the youth population.
The problem with raising expectations within a community that has gone without for so long is that the desire for change is so urgent, and the current systems are so lacking. Inaction, real or perceived, on life and death issues can breed resentment within Indigenous communities, while Canadians seem paralyzed by a sense of not knowing how to tackle this mountain.
That’s where I see Canada sitting today on our journey to reconciliation.
Long before the Calls to Action, I attended some of the TRC hearings where survivors told me, a teenager so angry at Canada, that reconciliation was their gift to my generation. They hoped I wouldn’t be burdened by the anger and pain they had felt all their lives. Those survivors knew reconciliation would be hard work, and it would take time, but it would ultimately bring peace to the hearts of Indigenous youth. The truth about Truth and Reconciliation is that we cannot do this alone. It’s not enough for Canadians to assign the role of reconciler to their MP, their PM or their government. We need individual Canadians in every sector to see their role in reconciliation.
But that robs us of our responsibility to help transform this country. Canada is an ambitious nation. When presented with a challenge, Canada can rise to the occasion with new ideas, coalition building, hard work and innovation. If we’re not ambitious about redefining how Indigenous youth can succeed in this country, then what’s it all for?
Last month, Canadian Roots Exchange hosted more than 300 youth from across the country, Indigenous and not, to talk about how we can make that transformation happen. I heard directly from young people that the reconciliation hasn’t yet happened, but they have hope and ideas.
I heard that we need to redesign systems like employment, education or youth programming — not invest in the ones we have right now — because they often don’t work for Indigenous youth.
I’m asking more from you, Canada. We’re not done nation building yet. We have teenagers, children and newborns who, without action, will certainly be claimed again by violence that is both sinister and systemic — but that can be prevented.
It’s been three years since the release of 94 Calls to Action, wherein residential school survivors and the commission gave the country a road map to reconciliation. They gave it to you and to me, as a gift. It’s my hope, during the holidays, that Canada recognizes this gift and puts it to good use.