Committing to ReconciliACTION

Sep 27, 2024

It has been almost nine years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) issued its watershed final report detailing the horrors inflicted upon generations of Indigenous persons across Canada and the institutionalized racism that made it possible. Meanwhile our collective work to realize the resulting 94 Calls to Action is still just beginning.

The urgency of our need to hold ourselves and our institutions accountable to this work is underscored by the killing of Indigenous people by police in recent weeks.

As we commemorate National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30, I urge all Nova Scotians to commit to action.

Designating September 30 a national holiday was one of the TRC’s Calls to Action, establishing a formal day of reflection on the lives of the many victims, survivors and families of Canada’s residential school program, and the generational harms that continue to be felt in so many ways.

Together, the 94 Calls to Action provide a comprehensive roadmap for healing, justice, and rebuilding relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Canada. This begins with ensuring the safety of all Indigenous people.

Our commitments to these actions acknowledge the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, including the cultural genocide inflicted through residential schools. By supporting these calls, Canadians can contribute to the restoration and protection of Indigenous lives, cultures, languages, and traditions, which were systematically suppressed.

Reconciliation is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. The 94 Calls to Action address a wide range of issues, from education and child welfare to justice and healthcare. Following through on these calls is necessary if we are to undo the structural inequities that Indigenous communities continue to face, and that all Canadians can plainly see playing out in the media.

Committing to the Calls to Action promotes healing and builds a more inclusive, compassionate society. It demonstrates a national commitment to justice and accountability, ensuring that the painful history of colonialism is not forgotten, but addressed and rectified.

By embracing these calls, we must move beyond symbolic gestures and work toward meaningful change, ensuring the process of reconciliation leads to a future built on mutual respect, understanding, and shared responsibility.

The preceding is a statement from Joseph Fraser, Director & CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

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