260 years of promises made and promises broken to Canada’s First Peoples
What progress has been made since the TRC Calls to Action were released in June 2015?
Welcome to Indigenous Watchdog
As of October 1, 2024 36% of the 94 TRC Calls to Action are either NOT STARTED or STALLED? Why?
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Where are we today?
Start with clicking “Learn More” below to go directly to the Calls to Action landing page: a single page view to the status of all 94 Calls to Action with links to dive deeper into any Indigenous issue you wish to explore.
Be informed. Speak up. Take action. Only then will reconciliation happen.
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Not Started
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Stalled
Complete
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Featured Updates
Call to Action # 92
Mi’kmaw embrace flagship Canadian offshore wind project
Canada’s National Observer: CGI of Nova East floating wind project being developed off the coast of Nova Scotia (Handout: Nova East Wind)Listen to article An……
October 15, 2024
Call to Action # 67
Munsee-Delaware First Nation to visit Wampum belt tied to their history
Belt believed to date from the 1770s has been in U.S. museum for decades The Wampum Belt was on display at the American Museum of……
October 14, 2024
Media and Reconciliation (84-86)
Gov. Gen.’s spouse criticizes Quebec media over coverage of Mary Simon’s trip to province
Some outlets questioned Simon’s ability to speak French after an event in Lévis, Que. Gov. Gen. Mary Simon poses for a photo alongside her husband,……
October 12, 2024
Environment
Despite challenges, fishing on Lake Winnipeg ‘just a way of life’ for many in this northern First Nation
Commercial fishing ‘the greatest thing in the world’ in spite of challenging season, says Poplar River fisher Desmond Batenchuk, 43, of Poplar River First Nation……
October 12, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
BC Conservative candidate doubles down on First Nations’ ‘responsibilities’ to Downtown Eastside
Musqueam member Wade Grant says BC Conservative Party candidate Dallas Brodie’s comments on First Nations’ ‘responsibilities’ to members are misguided. Dallas Brodie is the BC……
October 12, 2024
Justice (25-42)
‘We want our kids back’
A Fifth Estate investigation into a sudden spike in deadly crime in a small northern B.C. community has revealed key details in the final moments……
October 11, 2024
Health (18-24)
Transport Canada withholds health study on Fort Chipewyan contamination
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam is among three Indigenous leaders calling out the government for not telling the community about contamination at the……
October 11, 2024
Call to Action # 3
14-year fight for disability services settled in favour of First Nations children in Manitoba
Human rights and legal challenge succeed Sumner-Pruden family signing settlement agreement that will see First Nations children living on-reserve have access to provincial disability services.……
October 11, 2024
Justice (25-42)
‘We have to call it out’: Glenn Joyal on wrongful convictions, racism and the justice system
https://player.vimeo.com/video/1018838088?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: Just one day after exonerating a First Nations man for a wrongful murder conviction in 1974, the chief justice of Manitoba’s Court……
October 11, 2024
Justice (25-42)
Thunder Bay’s police service to go under the microscope – again
Inspector General of Policing of Ontario has announced a review Ryan Teschner says he will review the work of the Thunder Bay Police Service as……
October 11, 2024
Why is Indigenous “Reconciliation” necessary?
King George III issued the Royal Proclamation in 1763 – 260 years ago. The Proclamation “explicitly stated that Aboriginal title has existed and continues to exist, and that all land would be considered Aboriginal land until ceded by treaty”1. In 1764, the Treaty of Niagara, attended by over 2000 Indigenous leaders ratified the Proclamation and established a new alliance between the British and Indigenous people who used their traditional way of representing treaties – the wampum belt.
The belt consists of two rows of purple wampum beads on a white background. Three rows of white beads symbolizing peace, friendship, and respect separate the two purple rows. The two purple rows symbolize two paths or two vessels travelling down the same river. One row symbolizes the Haudenosaunee people with their law and customs, while the other row symbolizes European laws and customs. As nations move together side-by-side on the River of Life, they are to avoid overlapping or interfering with one another.
It was understood by the Haudenosaunee that the Two Row agreement would last forever, that is, “as long as the grass is green, as long as the water flows downhill, and as long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.2”
Breaking the treaty didn’t take long. The colonial government determined that in order to secure the land for future settlement and development, the Indigenous population needed to be moved onto reserves where they could be more easily controlled, marginalized and kept out of the way. The Indian Act of 18764 institutionalized Canada’s racist policies by denying to Indigenous people the basic rights that were available to every other Canadian like:
- the right to vote: granted in 1960
- the right to practice their religion: denied until 1940
- the right to speak their own languages: late 1880s to early 1960s
- permission from Indian agent to leave reserve: 1885 to 1951
- the right to wear traditional regalia: 1906-1951
- the right to organize political organizations: 1927-1951
- the right to hire a lawyer: 1927-1951
Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982 Section 35 recognizes and affirms Aboriginal title. The biggest challenge facing Indigenous peoples is the continuous refusal of the federal, provincial and territory governments to recognize and acknowledge this fact.
Notes:
- indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca
- “A short introduction to the Two Row Wampum”. Briar Patch.Tom Keefer. March 10, 2014
- Two Row Wampum Belt – Gä•sweñta’ image above courtesy of Onondaga Nation, N.Y.
- “21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act”. Bob Joseph. Indigenous Relations Press. 2018
About Indigenous Watchdog
Indigenus Watchdog is a federally registered non-profit created to monitor and report on critical Indigenous issues including the 94 Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. Our mission is to raise awareness and educate all Canadians on how reconciliation is advancing – or not.
And if not – why?
Perspectives Posts
This space links to the “Perspectives” post for the latest “Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action Status Updates” on the Indigenous Watchdog site. “Perspectives” contains all the Indigenous Watchdog commentary on selected Indigenous issues current at the time of posting
See all blog postsTRC Calls To Action Status: October 1, 2024
Continue readingWhat’s New in Indigenous Watchdog. 233 New Entries: September 1 – September 30,2024
Not Started Stalled In Progress Complete 15 19 46 14 16% 20% 49% 15% Status Legacy Calls to Action(1-42) + 50-52, 62-65 Reconciliation Calls to Action(43-94) Not Started 2, 9, 10, 26, 34, 42, 51, 52, 64 45, 46, 47, 55, 56, 89 Stalled 6, 8, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 29, 30, 35
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