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 April 1, 2024 37% of the 94 TRC Calls to Action are either NOT STARTED or STALLED? Why?
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By curating details from multiple sources – government stakeholders as well as local and national media, research reports, studies, white papers, statistics, budgets – Indigenous Watchdog will deliver relevant, current information to raise awareness on Indigenous issues through an Indigenous lens.
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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Featured Updates
Justice (25-42)
BC’s Police Watchdog Wants to Know Why Officers Aren’t Being Charged
The government should review the BC Prosecution Service’s decisions in police cases, says investigation office head Ron MacDonald. Jared Lowndes’s mother, Laura Holland, rebuking an……
April 26, 2024
Environment
‘Our Mother Earth is sick’: Leaders speak out on rampant plastic pollution in the Arctic
Vi Waghiyi, environmental and justice program director at ACAT, poses with IPEN’s The Arctic’s Plastic Crisis report. Photoy by Matteo Cimellaro / Canada’s National Observer Listen……
April 26, 2024
Environment
Plastics industry treats Indigenous lands as ‘sacrifice zones’
Canada’s National Observer: A sign for the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Resource Centre is located across the road from NOVA Chemicals in Sarnia, Ont., on April……
April 25, 2024
Justice (25-42)
‘This Is Not Over’: Mother of Jared Lowndes Vows to Keep Fighting
Prosecutors’ decision to not charge officers met with disbelief and disappointment. Laura Holland and lawyer Neil Chantler spoke to reporters on Tuesday after learning that……
April 25, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
What’s Next for the Historic Haida Agreement?
BC United and the Conservative party plan tough scrutiny in the legislature. Andrew MacLeod TodayThe Tyee Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s legislative bureau chief in Victoria……
April 25, 2024
Health (18-24)
‘We have room for improvement’: Management testifies at Whitehorse inquest
Coroner’s inquest into shelter deaths wraps up. The inquest is being held at the Best Western in downtown Whitehorse. Photo: Sara Connors/APTN APTN News: Upper……
April 25, 2024
Child Welfare (1-5)
Ottawa failing to meet Jordan’s Principle deadlines for First Nations kids’ care most of the time
The policy is supposed to ensure timely access to health care, social services for vulnerable children Documents show Indigenous Services Canada responded to just 33……
April 25, 2024
Language and Culture (13-17)
Air Canada apologizes to national chief after flight crew took her headdress away
Airline says it’s reviewing its policies following ‘regrettable incident’ National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak during a news conference in……
April 25, 2024
Justice (25-42)
Secwépemc family launches human rights complaint against Correctional Service Canada
APTN News: The family of Norman LaRue, a member of Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc who is currently serving a life sentence in British Columbia, is speaking……
April 25, 2024
Environment
Keep Sarnia plastic plant shut until First Nation says it’s safe: environment groups
https://player.vimeo.com/video/939342260?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: The Canadian Press – International environmental advocates are calling for a petrochemical plant in southern Ontario to remain closed, in light of……
April 25, 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?
Featured Content
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
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: April 1, 2024
Continue readingHow successful are the 24 Faculties of Law in implementing Call to Action # 28?
The 24 Faculties of Law in Canada have taken widely different approaches to implementing a mandatory Indigenous course in response to Call to Action # 28. What follows is an objective view of what each faculty is delivering based exclusively on how many mandatory Indigenous courses are offered over how many terms that address the
Continue reading