TRUTH & RECOCILIATION COMISSION

Question 1

truth & reconciliation commission

Answer 1

-tasked with writing a complete historical record about the residential schools policies & operations

Question 2

Why was it formed?

Answer 2

-as a result of increasing INDG activism, survivors of the IRS system began suing the Canadian gov’t for the harm caused
-a group of 27 survivors of their Alberni residential school on Vancouver Island, BC, filed suit against both the Canadian gov’t & united church of Canada
-after 9 years of deliberation, the court ruled in favour of the plaintiffs in 2005, finding churches “could not claim immunity from damage claims & therefore shared the blame with the gov’t”

Question 3

Calls to action

Answer 3

The 94 CTA’s are actionable policy recommendations meant to aid the healing process in 2 ways: acknowledge the full, horrifying history of the residential schools system, & creating systems to prevent these abuses from ever happening again in the future

Question 4

Goal of the first 42 CTA’S

Answer 4

Is to fully & publicly acknowledge the cultural genocide committed
- each of the CTAs is broken down into subcategories of how this took place, & the modern-day effects on the following areas within INDG communities:
-child welfare
Education
Language & culture
Health
Justice

Question 5

The goal of the remaining CTAs is to implement policy changes that will:

Answer 5

-meaningfully & permanently dismantle the systemic racism that leads to worse health outcomes, premature death, & limited economic opportunities
-vastly improve life for INDG peoples in Canada
-ensure, through thorough & honest education, tat this never happens again

Question 6

Trauma healing

Answer 6

-ceremony - drumming, sweats, prayer, sacred medicines, dance, song
-connections with family elders
-traditional, healthy foods, reconnecting with the land
-storytelling