1. The Commission that changed the direction of education in Canada

I figured the best place to begin with my inquiry was to go back to the organization and its guiding documents that brought education about residential schools and aboriginal culture to the forefront of our nation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

Some reading about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reveals that Truth forms the backbone of this organization (University of Manitoba, n.d., About). 

First, the Commission collected individual truths from residential school Survivors. For the first time, Survivors were given a voice, direct to the federal government, a space in which their abuses in the system could be expressed and acknowledged. The Commission promises to keep and honour these truths, for future generations. 

As well, the Commission has pledged to speak only the Truth. There is a devotion to sharing Survivor truths with the world, exposing residential schools for what they were: institutions run by the government and the church which hastened the cultural genocide of indigenous peoples.

The other important goal of this commission is Reconciliation: with the government, with Canadians, with other aboriginal peoples. Many aboriginal leaders came together to discuss and create their Calls to Action document. In it, a plan is laid out for government and citizens, with specific steps and goals. The aim is to embrace the difficult truths of the past and move forward together, as a nation.

There are 4 Calls to Action related to Education. I would argue that they are some of the most important as they guide the teaching of the Residential School era truths in our school system. Through these actions, children all over the country are learning about this time period and it's effects that linger still today and will continue to do so, for many generations. The Honourable Murray Sinclair, former Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Chair, also felt strongly about these points, as he said:  “Education is what got us into this mess and education is key to getting us out of it.” (University of Manitoba, n.d., Education)

The following are summaries of each of these Calls to Action (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015).

62. Call to federal, provincial and territorial governments to ensure that aboriginal studies are included in all grades from Kindergarten to Grade 12; Provide funding for post-secondary teachers and teachers in Aboriginal schools about how to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms; create a new position, at the federal government level, dedicated to Aboriginal content in education.

63. Call to the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to develop and implement learning resources on Aboriginal peoples and residential schools while sharing best practices related to this, identifying teacher training needs relating to this and building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect.

64.  Call to all levels of government that provide public funds to religious schools to present content on various religions, which must include Aboriginal spiritual beliefs (to be developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders).

65. Call to the federal government to establish a multi-year, national research program that would advance understanding of reconciliation. 

My next post will look at where the federal government current sits with regard to these 4 calls to action.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

University of Manitoba. (n.d.). About. National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://nctr.ca/about/ 

University of Manitoba. (n.d.). Education. National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://nctr.ca/education/