National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The following report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission outlines 94 Calls to Action in response to the findings of the consultations with Indigenous survivors.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

Video: What has been the purposes and role of the T.R.C.?

Video by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, presentation by Commissioner, Dr. Mary Wilson explaining the purpose of the T.R.C.

Video: What happened?

Video by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, presentation by Commissioner, Dr. Mary Wilson describing what happened and how the TRC is involved.

Video: T.R.C. Event May 28, 2015

Video by the T.R.C. describing the process of the T.R.C. through the voices of survivors and witnesses (Caution: This video contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some visitors)

Video: How should people Feel?

Video by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, presentation by Commissioner, Dr. Mary Wilson.

Nine Calls to Action were identified by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, as containing the word ‘Municipal’ or ‘all levels of government’ in them:

#40 We call on all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal people, to create adequately funded and accessible Aboriginal-specific victim programs and services with appropriate evaluation mechanisms.

#43 We call upon federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.

#47 We call upon federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts

#57 We call upon federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights and anti-racism.

#64 We call upon all levels of government that provide public funds to denominational schools to require such schools to provide an education on comparative religious studies, which must include a segment on Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders.

#75 We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential school students, and current landowners to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children.

#77 We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal and community archives to work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to identify and collect copies of all records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system, and to provide these to the NCTR.

#87 We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.

#88 We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorial team preparation and travel.

The following is the final report on the inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Final Report | MMIWG

The City of Oshawa is situated on treaty land that is steeped in rich Indigenous history and is the present day home to many First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. The City acknowledges that we gather on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

Chief Kelly LaRocca

Chief: The Chief is the official spokesperson of the First Nation and is required to attend meetings with local, federal and provincial counterparts. The Chief attends council, committee and community meetings as required to provide direction to members of staff who are associated with his/her portfolio in the development of policies and programs.

Councillor Jamie Coons and Councillor Laura Colwell

Councillor: It is the Councillor’s responsibility to work with the Chief and other Councillor to oversee the operations of the First Nation. Councillors are required to attend meetings with local, federal and provincial counterparts and attend council, committee and community meetings as required to discuss community issues. 

The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation moved into southern Ontario from their former homeland north of Lake Huron around the year 1700. The Mississaugas are a branch of the greater Ojibwa Nation, one of the largest native groups in Canada.

Check out their Facebook page. 

On October 29, 2012, in Alderville Indian Band et al v. Her Majesty the Queen et al, Canada and Ontario took the position at trial that harvesting rights associated with pre-confederation treaties signed by the Williams Treaties First Nations were not intended to be surrendered in 1923, particularly the Treaty 20 (1818) area which was the subject of judicial scrutiny in Taylor and Williams, 1981.

This position recognizes the Williams Treaties people’s constitutionally protected harvesting rights in Treaty 20. This means Williams Treaties harvesters are able to exercise rights in line with those of other treaty people in most of Ontario.

In June 2018, the Williams Treaties First Nations ratified the Williams Treaties Settlement Agreement with Canada and Ontario. As it relates to harvesting, the Williams Treaties Settlement Agreement recognizes the Williams Treaties First Nations continuing pre-confederation treaty harvesting rights to harvest fish, wildlife, trapping and gathering in Treaties 5, 16, 18, 20, 27 and 27 1/4.

The word Anishinaabe translated means a good person. Anishin means good and aabe comes from the word yaabe meaning the male species. The female in Anishinaabe is kwe. When we use mowin on the end of Anishinaabe, it simply means the language of the good person.

Learn more about Anishnaabemowin from the Trent University Chanie Wenjack School.

The Oshawa and Durham Métis Council is a Métis Nation of Ontario (MON) Charter Community Community Council. Check out their Facebook Page.

Trent Durham’s campus has several developing dedicated spaces for gathering and supporting cultural learning and activities on campus. These spaces are important to cultivating empathy, respect and positive connection between students, faculty, staff, some of those spaces are the Tipi, an Indigenous Student Study Room and a future Medicine Garden.

Currently regular social fires and activities in these spaces are not happening due to COVID Public Health Protocols.

FPHL will be offering and supporting online activities such as Counselling, Visiting Elders and Traditional Knowledge Holders, Ishkodehwin live, Learn By Doing workshops and where possible some social distancing events will be offered.

Baagwating Indigenous Student Centre is a welcoming gathering place for First Nation, Métis and Inuit students.

The Ontario Tech Baagwating Indigenous Student Centre is located at 151 Athol St. (beside 61 Charles St.) and the Indigenous Centre - North Location in U5-1.

Suswaaning Endaajig
(Nest away from home)

Durham College’s First Peoples Indigenous Centre utilizes a holistic approach to supporting Indigenous students through traditional teachings of the medicine wheel which focuses on a student’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

Learn more about Suswaaning Endaajig Aboriginal Student Centre at Durham College with this short video.

The Advisory Circle meets throughout the school year to discuss and co-plan Indigenous Education initiatives in the DDSB. The committee is made up of people who represent the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, the Oshawa and Durham Métis Council, representatives from post-secondary institutions, and members of the DDSB.