Reconciliation
Church Apologies and Reconciliation
60. We call upon leaders of the church parties to the Settlement Agreement and all other faiths, in collaboration with Indigenous spiritual leaders, Survivors, schools of theology, seminaries, and other religious training centres, to develop and teach curriculum for all student clergy, and all clergy and staff who work in Aboriginal communities, on the need to respect Indigenous spirituality in its own right, the history and legacy of residential schools and the roles of the church parties in that system, the history and legacy of religious conflict in Aboriginal families and communities, and the responsibility that churches have to mitigate such conflicts and prevent spiritual violence.
This Call is being implemented to varying degrees.
Reconciliation
Church Apologies and Reconciliation
59. We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary.
Today I am pleasantly surprised to learn that Beyond 94 considers this Call complete. All churches party to the Settlement Agreement are also members of KAIROS Canada, which is an association through which churches and other religious organizations work together for ecological justice and human rights; one of their Areas of Work is Indigenous rights, and they are doing extensive work toward decolonization and reconciliation. One of the most important aspects of KAIROS's work for Indigenous rights is their Blanket Exercise Workshop, which churches use as a tool to teach their congregations about residential schools and the churches' involvement therein.
Reconciliation
Church Apologies and Reconciliation
58. We call upon the Pope to issue an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Catholic-run residential schools. We call for that apology to be similar to the 2010 apology issued to Irish victims of abuse and to occur within one year of the issuing of this Report and to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.
I was somewhat surprised to learn that the current Pope refuses to issue such an apology, although many forces in Canada, including the Prime Minister, have been trying to get him to come to Canada so he can apologize in person.
I can't guess at why the Pope wouldn't make such a simple but meaningful gesture, but I know what I've heard from a lot of people regarding the harmful legacy of colonization: "It's not my fault, so what's it got to do with me?" So in this post I'd like to address the difference between blame and responsibility.
Whereas the focus on blame is to find fault, the focus of responsibility is accountability. We as 3rd, 4th, 5th generation Canadians are certainly not to blame for what our ancestors did; we do, however, benefit from the systems put in place by our ancestors, systems which were harmful to others. Therefore, as people in this position of privilege, we are responsible for making amends.
In the Pope's case, he and others involved in the Catholic Church today are not to blame for Residential Schools; they weren't there at that time, so technically they couldn't have done anything wrong. However, the Catholic Church was directly involved in this catastrophic time for Indigenous people and their culture. Therefore, they most certainly have a responsibility to make amends. By refusing to apologize, as a simple step toward reconciliation, the Pope is essentially saying the Catholic Church did nothing wrong.
And considering the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has already issued a statement rejecting the concepts used to justify the colonization of Indigenous people and their lands, I see no reason why the Catholic Church itself can not issue an apology for its involvement in such things.
It's as simple as this: refusing to take responsibility for harm done is no better than doing harm in the first place.
Reconciliation
Professional Development and Training for Public Servants
57. 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.
Public servants include police officers, judges, firefighters, border patrol, public health workers, public school principles, teachers, and administrators - all people who come in contact with Indigenous people, and often in contact with Indigenous people at risk. The importance of this Call is clear: the people whose job it is to keep us safe, healthy and educated should have an awareness of and sensitivity toward the Aboriginal population and their history in this country. Only then will they be able to fulfill their duties to their fullest extent; in understanding the trauma held by Indigenous people - and the lingering effects of that trauma - public servants will be better able to serve Indigenous people with respect and recognition.
According to Beyond 94, federal public servants are not currently required to take Indigenous cultural awareness training, but a curriculum is being created. Public servants in the Northwest Territories and in Ontario are required to receive such training, and those in Alberta are required to take a one-day course on Indigenous history and culture.
Reconciliation
National Council for Reconciliation
56. We call upon the prime minister of Canada to formally respond to the report of the National Council for Reconciliation by issuing an annual “State of Aboriginal Peoples” report, which would outline the government’s plans for advancing the cause of reconciliation.
Since there is no Council, there is no report to which the PM can respond.
Reconciliation
National Council for Reconciliation
55. 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:
i. 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.
ii. Comparative funding for the education of First Nations children on and off reserves.
iii. The educational and income attainments of Aboriginal peoples in Canada compared with non-Aboriginal people.
iv. 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.
v. Progress on eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in youth custody over the next decade.vi. Progress on reducing the rate of criminal victimization of Aboriginal people, including data related to homicide and family violence victimization and other crimes.
vii. Progress on reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice and correctional systems.
Since no Council has been created, no data or annual reports have been provided.
Reconciliation
National Council for Reconciliation
54. We call upon the Government of Canada to provide multi-year funding for the National Council for Reconciliation to ensure that it has the financial, human, and technical resources required to conduct its work, including the endowment of a National Reconciliation Trust to advance the cause of reconciliation.
Since a National Council for Reconciliation has not yet been created, no funding has been committed.
Reconciliation
National Council for Reconciliation
53. We
call upon the Parliament of Canada, in consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal peoples,
to enact legislation to
establish a National Council for Reconciliation.
The legislation would establish the council
as an independent, national, oversight body with
membership jointly appointed by the Government of
Canada and national Aboriginal organizations, and consisting of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
members. Its mandate would
include, but not be limited to, the following:
i. Monitor,
evaluate, and report annually to Parliament and
the people of Canada on the Government of Canada’s
post-apology progress on reconciliation to
ensure that government accountability for reconciling
the relationship between Aboriginal peoples
and the Crown is maintained in the coming years.
ii. Monitor,
evaluate, and report to Parliament and the people
of Canada on reconciliation progress across all
levels and sectors of Canadian society, including the implementation of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission of
Canada’s Calls to Action.
iii. Develop and implement a multi-year National Action Plan for Reconciliation, which
includes research and policy
development, public education programs,
and resources.
iv. Promote
public dialogue, public/private partnerships,
and public initiatives for reconciliation.
In December 2017, an interim Board
of Directors was tasked with developing the National Council for
Reconciliation; here is the Board's final report. As
of yet, no National Council for Reconciliation has been created, but there have
been commitments to do so.
Reconciliation
Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System
52. We call upon the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and the courts to adopt the following legal principles:
i. Aboriginal title claims are accepted once the Aboriginal claimant has established occupation over a particular territory at a particular point in time.
ii. Once Aboriginal title has been established, the burden of proving any limitation on any rights arising from the existence of that title shifts to the party asserting such a limitation.
As of yet, no parties appealed to in this Call have adopted these legal principles, although the Government of Canada states a commitment to advancing Indigenous self-determination.
Reconciliation
Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System
51. We call upon the Government of Canada, as an obligation of its fiduciary responsibility, to develop a policy of transparency by publishing legal opinions it develops and upon which it acts or intends to act, in regard to the scope and extent of Aboriginal and Treaty rights.
The federal government is "currently studying (their) policies and practices in relation to legal
opinions in support of the development of options in response to this
Call," and as of yet, there is no policy or legislation in this regard, nor has there been any proposed announcements to implement such legislation.
Reconciliation
Equity for Aboriginal Peoples in the Legal System
50. In keeping with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal organizations, to fund the establishment of Indigenous law institutes for the development, use, and
understanding of Indigenous laws and access to justice in accordance with the unique cultures of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
As of yet, the federal government has not funded the establishment of Indigenous law programs, though it has had some requests for funding (from UVic, for example, which offers a program combining the study of Indigenous and non-Indigenous law, from which students will graduate with degrees in Canadian common law and Indigenous legal orders.)
The Federation of Law Societies of Canada has created an advisory committee to develop recommendations on this and other Calls pertaining to Canadian and Indigenous laws.
Reconciliation
Settlement Agreement Parties and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
49. We call upon all religious denominations and faith groups who have not already done so to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius.
As mentioned in a previous post, many churches have voiced their support of the Calls to Action and some have repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius.
Reconciliation
Settlement Agreement Parties and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
48. We call upon the church parties to the Settlement Agreement, and all other faith groups and interfaith social justice groups in Canada who have not already done so, to formally adopt and comply with the principles, norms, and standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for reconciliation. This would include, but not be limited to, the following commitments:
i. Ensuring that their institutions, policies, programs, and practices comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
ii. Respecting Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination in spiritual matters, including the right to practise, develop, and teach their own spiritual and religious traditions, customs, and ceremonies, consistent with Article 12:1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
iii. Engaging in ongoing public dialogue and actions to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
iv. Issuing a statement no later than March 31, 2016, from all religious denominations and faith groups, as to how they will implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Churches party to the Settlement Agreement include the United, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. All church parties have officially committed to implementing UNDRIP into their framework, but as of yet, none have actually adopted it. Here you'll find church responses to this call.
Reconciliation
Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation
47. 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.
At this time, no level of government has repudiated the concepts used to assert European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, but Canadian courts, churches and other groups have independently rejected such concepts.
Reconciliation
Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation
46. We call upon the parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to develop and sign a Covenant of Reconciliation that would identify principles for working collaboratively to advance reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would include, but not be limited to:
i. Reaffirmation of the parties’ commitment to reconciliation.
ii. Repudiation of concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and the reformation of laws, governance structures, and policies within their respective institutions that continue to rely on such concepts.
iii. Full adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.
iv. Support for the renewal or establishment of Treaty relationships based on principles of mutual recognition, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for maintaining those relationships into the future.
v. Enabling those excluded from the Settlement Agreement to sign onto the Covenant of Reconciliation.
vi. Enabling additional parties to sign onto the Covenant of Reconciliation.
As of yet, no Covenant of Reconciliation has been created, but many Churches party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement have voiced their support of the Calls to Action, and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius. So, while Beyond 94 considers this Call "Not Started," they do concede that some progress has been made.
