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Truth and Reconciliation Report

To redress the legacy of residential schools and advance reconciliation, in its final report the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada  called on governments, educational and religious institutions, civil society groups and all Canadians to take action on the 94 Calls to Action it identified. On December 15, 2015, the Prime Minister reiterated the Government of Canada's commitment to implement the recommendations of the commission.  

The following is a summary of the historical perspective and the recommendations related to churches:    

A National & Historical Perspective on Truth and Reconciliation  

Churches were already involved in schooling of Indigenous children through their own missionary efforts before confederation and before any government residential school system.  

The Presbyterian Church in Canada managed eleven residential schools prior to church union and still operated two of the schools for most of the 20th century.  

As a whole, the country of Canada has promulgated numerous harms, including the pass system, systematic discrimination, poor police protection (for example, missing women and children), fraudulent treaty dealings and out-right stealing of land from Indigenous peoples, but it is the wide-spread abuses in the residential school system that have become a central focus of healing and reconciliation.  

These harms have been perpetrated for generations, largely hidden, seemingly sanctioned by government and condoned by society, causing untold hardship to indigenous people, culture and prosperity.    

What is reconciliation?  

For some, “reconciliation” is a misnomer in that there has never been a “conciliatory'” relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people that could now be re-established.  Rather, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) approaches the issue as:  

  • Coming to terms with events of the past;
  • Overcoming conflicts; and
  • Establishing respectful and healthy relations going forward.    

What can we do?  

Of the 94 Truth and Reconciliation Report calls to action that include support for everything from child welfare to education, language, culture, health, justice and missing children information, there are four specifically addressed to churches found in Calls to Action 58 to 61:

  1. Apologize.
  2. Educate congregations on the church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools and why apologies are necessary.
  3. Educate congregations and clergy, in collaboration with Indigenous spiritual leaders and survivors, regarding understanding, sensitivity and respect for Indigenous spirituality.
  4. Collaborate with Indigenous organizations to establish sustainable local initiatives such as:                              

i. Community-controlled healing and reconciliation projects.                             

ii. Community-controlled culture and language revitalization projects.                           

iii. Community-controlled education and relationship-building projects.                           

iv. Regional dialogues for Indigenous spiritual leaders and youth to discuss Indigenous spirituality, self-determination, and reconciliation.  

As cited from:   https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524494530110/1557511412801 

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation 

https://nctr.ca/  

Truth and Reconciliation Reports

https://nctr.ca/records/reports/#trc-reports  

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1450124405592/1529106060525 

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