Truth and Reconciliation

Truth and Reconciliation, with regard to efforts to address Indigenous Injustices in Canada, refers to a process that uncovers the truth about past wrongs by acknowledging the harm done. The agreements and initiatives described below all involved efforts aimed at promoting truth and reconciliation for both the Residential Schools crisis and the Sixties Scoop.

Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA)

The Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA), signed in 2006 and enacted in 2007[1], aimed to address the injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples who were forcibly placed in residential schools. With a focus on assimilating Indigenous children, the federal government and churches concurrently subjected them to cultural, physical, and emotional abuse. After the last residential school, Gordon Residential School, was abolished in 1996[2], the federal government recognised the full extent of the damage caused and worked to address it through various initiatives.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), established in 2008 as part of the IRSSA, had a primary objective to address the historical abuses faced by residential school students by documenting individual testimonies from victims. Across its seven year mandate, the TRC successfully collected reports from 6,500 survivors[3].

The main positive outcome of the commission was the increased public awareness of Indigenous history. In 2016, the Environics Institute  for Survey Research conducted a national survey asking Canadians if they were familiar with the term “residential schools.” Of those who responded, 66 % indicated they were somewhat familiar with the term, a significant increase from 26% in 2008 when the same survey was conducted[4].

On the other hand, while public awareness of systematic inequalities had improved significantly,, the TRC's work did not lead to immediate systematic change. As of 2020, 25% of Indigenous people still lived in poverty, more than double the national rate of 12%. Only 52% of Northern Indigenous households had food security. The lack of access to basic necessities highlights the ongoing human rights issues that northern Indigenous communities frequently face. Moving from acknowledgment to action remains crucial for community development and reconciliation[5].

Comprehensive Final Report by TRC

The TRC’s Comprehensive Final Report is a multi-volume document described as a “testament to the courage of each and every survivor and family member who shared their story”[6]. Released in 2015, it issued 94 calls to Action aimed at addressing the harms of the residential school system and advancing reconciliation. The recommendations cover key areas such as justice, child welfare, language and culture, education, and healthcare, with the goal of improving relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and promoting Indigenous rights[7].

One key issue identified in the report was the suppression of Indigenous cultures and languages as a key harm caused by residential schools. To tackle this, one of the Calls to Action recommended language preservation and revitalisation. This led to the 2019 passage of the Indigenous Languages Act, backed by $333.7 million from the federal government, which is now helping to revitalise over 70 Indigenous languages[8].  

As with so many of the Initiatives to address harm against Indigenous people, one of the biggest criticisms of the 94 Calls to Action has been the slow pace of implementation. As of 2021, only 14 of the 94 Calls had been fully implemented, with 21 classified as "stalled" due to jurisdictional complexities and funding limitations. This slow progress has understandably caused frustration within Indigenous communities, leading to the report being criticised for “taking too long to make meaningful change”[9].

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)

Located at the University of Manitoba, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) serves as a "place of learning and dialogue where the truths of the residential school experience will be honoured and kept safe for future generations”. The NCTR’s mandate is to preserve the memory of Canada’s residential school system by permanently archiving documents, records and stories that were once shared by victims. Their aim is to promote ongoing dialogue and education about the issue to successive generations by exploring real accounts from the past[10].

With over 10,000 people visiting the NCTR’s website annually, the centre’s online engagement significantly helps support the centre to facilitate memorials and commemorations in honour of those who passed or were harmed as a result of the residential school systems. Similarly, 80 events and public engagements were held through NCTR collaborations to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation[11]. The centre’s efforts to facilitate national commemorations and build bridges between communities through events, has been widely appreciated by many victims and their families[12].

However, perhaps the biggest challenge the NCTR faced, were the jurisdictional and structural barriers in Canada. The NCTR has only successfully implemented 15% of the Calls to Action because of the complexity and time consuming nature of coordinating work between federal, provincial, and territorial governments whose priorities heavily conflict with each other[13].

Sixties Scoop Settlement Agreement

The Sixties Scoop Settlement Agreement acknowledged the harm caused by the removal of Indigenous children from their families during the Sixties Scoop. The agreement sought to compensate survivors, publicly recognise and apologise for the harm, establish healing and reconciliation initiatives, and administer the claims process[14].

After the settlement recognised  what some referred to as the cultural genocide caused by the sixties scoop, it triggered efforts to address the long-lasting physical and mental trauma experienced by survivors. This recognition was vital for survivors, as it helped validate their experiences and the long-term trauma experienced by their communities. The recognition promoted public awareness and understanding of the damage caused to communities which contributed to larger reconciliation efforts[15].

On the other hand, despite the federal governments recognition of the harm caused by the Sixties Scoop, no formal apology was included in the settlement. An official apology is seen as a crucial step in linking the apology to the compensation and in reconciling strained relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Reflecting on past wrongs and offering a sincere apology is an essential step for genuine reconciliation[16].

Conclusion

Truth and reconciliation efforts have been instrumental in raising awareness about the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, but progress has been slow in implementing meaningful change. From the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement to the Sixties Scoop Settlement, these efforts have addressed vital aspects of Canada's colonial past. However, moving from acknowledgment to concrete actions remains a challenge, and the continued implementation of the Calls to Action is necessary for true reconciliation to occur.

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[1] J.R Miller, “Residential Schools in Canada,” The Canadian Encyclopedia (Historica Canada, October 10, 2012),

[2] J.R Miller, “Residential Schools in Canada,” The Canadian Encyclopedia (Historica Canada, October 10, 2012), 

[3] Government of Canada, “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada,” Government of Canada, May 28, 2024,

[4] Environics Institute for Survey Research, “Canadian Public Opinion on Aboriginal Peoples Indian Residential Schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Awareness and Knowledge about Indian Residential Schools,” n.d.,

[5] Statistics Canada, “Food Insecurity among Inuit Living in Inuit Nunangat,” www150.statcan.gc.ca, February 1, 2017, 

[6] Government of Canada, “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada,” Government of Canada, May 28, 2024, 

[7] canadian encyclopedia, “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action | the Canadian Encyclopedia,” www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, October 5, 2021,

[8] Canadian Heritage, “The Indigenous Languages Act Receives Royal Assent,” gcnws, June 21, 2019,

[9] Eva Jewell and Ian Mosby, “Yellowhead Institute,” 2022, 

[10] National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, “About,” NCTR, 2021,

[11] katherine Dornian, “Progress Too Slow on Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, Advocates Say - National | Globalnews.ca,” CJOB, June 16, 2024,

[12] katherine Dornian, “Progress Too Slow on Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, Advocates Say - National | Globalnews.ca,” CJOB, June 16, 2024,

[13] INDIGENOUS WATCHDOG, “On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Why Are 38% of the TRC Calls to Action Either ‘Not Started’ or ‘Stalled’?,” Indigenous Watchdog, October 2, 2022, 

[14] Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, “Sixties Scoop Agreement in Principle,” gcnws, October 6, 2017, 

[15] Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, “Sixties Scoop Agreement in Principle,” gcnws, October 6, 2017,

[16] Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, “Sixties Scoop Agreement in Principle,” gcnws, October 6, 2017,