What has been done on the issue

A public apology was issued on June 11, 2008, by the House of Commons for the government’s involvement in the residential school system and its impact on the Aboriginal peoples. The apology was broadcasted across Canada. This apology was known to change the relationship between the government and the Aboriginal peoples as the federal government and its relations with the Aboriginal peoples was beginning to be based on mutual respect. Some people however doubted that the apology was going to change the government’s relationship with the Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal leaders have said that if there is no supportive action, then the gestures for the healing process by churches and the government are not enough. As a result, healing initiatives are being undertaken by communities and residential school survivor societies, traditionally and non-traditionally. Opportunities are being provided for survivors to discuss their experiences, in attempts to heal and develop a future for themselves, their families and their communities.

The concern of residential schools was raised by Indigenous men and women who lived through them. The residential school “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada” concluded that the Canadian residential school system caused Indigenous children to separate from their families. This was done so the family would be unable to pass cultural heritage to their children. The testimony of approximately six thousand Indigenous peoples were heard, who were taken away from their families and placed in the residential school system as the commission travelled across the country for six years.

“The Truth and Reconciliation Committee of Canada” was organized by parties of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. This commission was to respond to many harms done on the Indigenous children of Canada through the residential school system including assimilation, but also sexual and physical abuse - and it’s harmful legacy. On June 2, 2008 the committee was officially established and on December 2016 it was completed.

There are several calls to action from this commission. These calls to action were divided into “legacy” and “reconciliation”.

The category “legacy” has several subtopics of actions. These include child welfare, education, language and culture, health and justice.

Child welfare - Rather than an education center, residential schools served as a foster home. Foster care was provided to 3.6% of Indigenous children under the age of 14 by 2011. A concern was voiced by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of The Child on the removal of Indigenous children from their family.

Education - In residential schools, the education system made Indigenous children seem culturally and intellectually inferior. The calls to action related to education include addressing the income gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous and the current school completion rates.

Language and Culture -

In residential schools, the children were not allowed to speak their native languages or practice their culture in order to assimilate them to Euro-Canadian culture. The call to action related to language and culture was to increase funding for educating Indigenous children their native languages and that degrees and diplomas in Indigenous languages were provided by post-secondary institutions.

Health - The Indigenous children were sexually and physically abused and the effects of the trauma were passed on to survivors. The call to action related to health was to reach out to Indigenous and non indigenous Canadians and their health outcomes.

Justice

Many investigations were compromised by the RCMP and federal government. Several acts of abuse were unpunished because the Indigenous children did not know how to seek justice for their abuses. The calls to action in terms of justice was to reaffirm that independence of the RCMP.

The second subtopic is “reconciliation”. There are many proposed actions related to reconciliation of the provincial and federal government, with the Indigenous nations of Canada. This includes the reconciliation of business, reconciliation of sports, reconciliation of the media, reconciliation of education, reconciliation of national council, church apologies, youth programs, newcomers to Canada, museums of Indigenous history, commemoration, equity for Indigenous people in the legal system, the Royal proclamation and covenant and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, along with its settlement agreement parties.