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Indigenous Watchdog Status Updates – June 14, 2021

“Seventy-six of the Report’s 94 Calls to Action fall under the sole or shared responsibility of the Government of Canada.  At this time, working together with provincial/territorial governments and other key partners, eighty percent of these are completed or well underway”.

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister Crown-Indigenous Relations, Dec. 15, 2020

Federal Government = 80%

Truth or Fiction?

Indigenous Watchdog Status Updates for all 76 calls to Action that the federal government is directly accountable for or have a shared accountability for – as of June 14, 2021 – are as follows:

Status UpdateHow Many?%
Complete57
In Progress3951
Stalled2128
Not Started1114

Indigenous Watchdog = 58%

NOTE: The above means that of the 76 Calls to Action 42% are either NOT STARTED or STALLED.

Status Change

Call to Action Description Status Change Why?
C2A # 41 Appoint public inquiry into MMIWG In Progress to Stalled Dissatisfaction with Action Plan
C2A # 54 Provide multi-year funding to NCR In Progress to Stalled Over 2 years with no progress
C2A # 74 Inform families of burial location Stalled to In Progress Federal govt issues $27M
C2A # 75 Identify, protect and commemorate cemeteries Stalled to In Progress Federal govt issues $27M
C2A # 76 Commit to Indigenous led principles and protocols Stalled to In Progress Federal govt issues $27M
C2A # 80 Establish a statutory holiday In Progress to Complete Bill C-5 receives Royal Assent

NOTE: Three Calls to Action # 74-76 only changed on June 7, 2021 after the news for Kamloops

See Indigenous Watchdog for complete details and evidence to back up the status of each of the Calls to Action.

The following table provides a quantitative look into what is happening with reconciliation across all 94 Calls to Action including a snapshot of all the actions from 2020.

Section 2020Mar. 31June 14July 15Sept. 30
Current Reality26513
Current Problems and Issues1895556
Legacy Calls to Action963542
Reconciliation Calls to Action55517
Total366100128

Sneak Peak: Some of the Call to Action “Status Updates” included below will be integrated in the re-designed indigenous Watchdog website scheduled for launch in the fall. This will be part of a significant expansion of content across the entire site: re-organized, optimized and searchable.

How to read each of the two kinds of tables:

Call to Action Home Page

  • Row 1 = Name of Call to Action Home Page
  • Row 2 = Section of Home Page
  • Row 3 = Where in the Call to Action is the content located?
  • Row 4 = Summary of content

Call to Action Table

  • Row 1 = What is the specific Call to Action #
  • Row 2 = Where in the Call to Action is the content located?
  • Row 3 = Summary of new content

For complete details on each of the content updates, please go the relevant Call to Action Home Page or Call to Action # for full details.

Child Welfare

Child Welfare Home Page

Current Reality
Update to “Federal Actions”
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021 announced $1 billion over five years, and $118.7 million ongoing starting in 2021–22, to increase funding under the First Nations Child and Family Services program
June 4, 2021 – The federal government had “conditioned its consent” for the Class Action lawsuit and would only certify the claims if the Jordan’s Principle victims from between 1991 and 2007 were removed
Current Reality
Update to “Provincial Actions“
May 3, 2021 – The Alberta Human Rights Commission is launching an Indigenous Human Rights Strategy to reduce systemic racism that Indigenous individuals and communities face in the health, education, child welfare, housing, and justice (including policing and corrections) systems
Current Reality
Update to “CHRT” Actions
May 11, 2021 – The Government of Canada submitted a funding plan developed in consultation with the First Nations Family and Caring Society of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for First Nations children and families living on-reserve and in Yukon not served by First Nations Child and Family Services agencies

Current Problems and Issues in Indigenous Child Welfare

Update to Federal/Provincial/Territory (F/P/T) Legislative and/or Institutional Issues
Release of “Mashkiwenmi-daa Noojimowin: Let’s Have Strong Minds for the Healing” the first report of the First Nations Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2018
May 3, 2021 – The differences in rates between First Nations and non-Indigenous children and investigations must be understood in the context of understanding the impact of colonialism and the resulting trauma to children, families and communities
Update to Federal/Provincial/Territory (F/P/T) Legislative and/or Institutional Issues
The Québec “Special Commission on the Rights of the Child and Youth Protection (Laurent Commission)”, released their Final Report
May 3, 2021 – Assembly of First Nations Québec-Labrador asserts their own jurisdiction “exercising their inherent rights in child and family services, which includes legislative authority in relation to those services and authority to administer and enforce laws made under that legislative authority,” vs the Québec Youth Protection Act
Update to Federal/Provincial/Territory (F/P/T) Legislative and/or Institutional Issues
Southern Chiefs Organization in Manitoba criticized the 2021 provincial budget cuts for foster care and child protection dropping below $500 million for the first time in four years
April 9, 2021 – They already illegally claw back the Children’s Special Allowance payments, money that comes from the federal government meant for children in care, in order to balance the budget. Now they are further undermining these children’s wellbeing and future opportunities by cutting the budget to its lowest in years.”
Update to “Child and Youth Advocate Reports”
Update to “Federal, Provincial, Territory Commitments to Child Welfare – Newfoundland and Labrador”
June 10, 2021 – Announced the appointment of retired Provincial Court Judge James Igloliorte as Chief Commissioner for the Commission of Inquiry into the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System

Call to Action # 1

Commit to reducing the number of children-in-care

Update to “Why In Progress?”
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021 announced $1,147 billion over five years, and $118.7 million ongoing starting in 2021–22, to increase funding under the First Nations Child and Family Services program
Update to “Federal, Provincial, Territory Commitments to Child Welfare – Newfoundland and Labrador”
June 10, 2021 – Announced the appointment of retired Provincial Court Judge James Igloliorte as Chief Commissioner for the Commission of Inquiry into the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System
Update to “Federal, Provincial, Territory Commitments to Child Welfare – Federal”
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021 announced 1,147 billion over five years, and $118.7 million ongoing starting in 2021–22, to increase funding under the First Nations Child and Family Services program
Update to “Federal, Provincial, Territory Commitments to Child Welfare – Ontario”
April 1, 2021 – The Ontario government announced today that Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services has been designated as the province’s 13th Indigenous children’s aid society
June 4, 2021 – The Anishinabek Nation and Canada signed the Agreement-in-Principle on Anishinabek Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being. Grand Council Chief Niganobe signed on behalf of 22 member First Nations
Update to “Federal, Provincial, Territory Commitments to Child Welfare – Alberta
May 3, 2021 – The Alberta Human Rights Commission is launching an Indigenous Human Rights Strategy to reduce systemic racism that Indigenous individuals and communities face in the health, education, child welfare, housing, and justice (including policing and corrections) systems

Call to Action # 3

Fully implement Jordan’s Principle

Update to “Why in Progress?” and “Government Actions to Implement Jordan’s Principle“
June 4, 2021 – After the federal government had certified its claim, a significant caveat appeared that “conditioned its consent” for the Class Action lawsuit and would only certify the claims if the Jordan’s Principle victims from between 1991 and 2007 were removed

Call to Action # 4

Update to “Why In Progress?”
April 29, 2021 – Budget 2021 proposes $73.6M over four years, starting in 2021-22 to support the implementation of the Act

Education

Education Home Page

Current Reality
Budget 2021 invests $1,188 over 5 years with $181.8M ongoing
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021 invests $1,188M over 5 years with $181.8M ongoing funding across three priority areas: COVID-19 support, funding mechanisms and First Nations control over education and adult education.

Current Problems and Issues in Indigenous Education

Protests against Egerton Ryerson, one of the primary architects of the Indian Residential School system, by the Yellowhead Institute and protestors against what his statue represents
June 2, 2021 – Yellowhead Institute students and faculty swapping the school’s current name with “X” University in their email signatures and on social media in response to the university’s affiliation with Egerton Ryerson, whose beliefs are widely credited with the establishment of what became the residential school system
Denial of access to education for Inuit youth who are prohibited from speaking Inuktuk and/or English
May 19, 2021 – Inuit youth in customary care in Québec are denied access to quality education by prohibitions against speaking Inuktuk and/or English when placed outside of their territory but that are allowed as long as they remain in their home communities which is not always possible
Alberta Human Rights Commission launches Human Rights Strategy to address systemic racism in Education
May 3, 2021 – The strategy to reduce systemic racism that Indigenous individuals and communities face in health, education, child welfare, housing, and justice (including policing and corrections) systems
Update to “Government of Alberta K-6 Curriculum Review“
May 25, 2021 – Some Alberta Indigenous leaders and an elder say the provincial government has used them or misrepresented their positions to gain endorsements for a new elementary school curriculum they do not support

Call to Action # 7

Develop a joint strategy to eliminate education and employment gaps

Updates to “Current Reality” and “Budget Facts and Figures”
Budget 2021 invests $1,188M over 5 years and $181.8M ongoing
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021 invests $1,188M over 5 years with $181.8M ongoing funding across three priority areas: COVID-19 support, funding mechanisms and First Nations control over education and adult education.

Call to Action # 8

Eliminate discrepancy in education funding for on-reserve vs off reserve

Update to F/P/T Funding Top-ups: Ontario (included in Indigenous Watchdog web redesign in Fall)
May 14, 2021 – Grand Council Treaty #3, Canada and Ontario successfully concluded the negotiation of a tripartite education Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Update to F/P/T Funding Top-ups: Yukon (included in IW web redesign in Fall)
June 4, 2021 – The Government of Yukon and the Chiefs Committee on Education announce the finalization of the Yukon First Nation School Board Framework Agreement

Call to Action # 11

Provide funding to end backlog for First Nations post-secondary education

Update to “Why In Progress?”
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021  proposes $150.6M over two years to support Indigenous students through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program and the Inuit and Métis Nation Post-Secondary Student Education Strategies as well as $26.4M in 2021-22 during COVID-19.
Update to “Provincial/Territory Post-Secondary Funding Initiatives: Saskatchewan (coming in fall site launch)
April 23, 2021 – The Ministry of Advanced Education has committed to stable base funding at 2020-21 levels for the duration of the agreement, along with an additional $60 million increase beyond annual operating funding over the next two years. This approach provides institutions with the ability to respond to challenges created by the pandemic, and to help grow financial sustainability over the long-term.

Call to Action # 12

Develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs

Update to “Why In Progress?” and “Federal Funding for Indigenous Early Childhood Education”
June 14, 2021 – The National Progress Report on Early Learning and Childcare has not been updated since Aug. 22, 2019 and there has been no update on the Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare Framework.
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021 invests $2.5B over 5 years to build on the existing distinctions-based approach to Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care, with a long-term investment in Indigenous-led programming that parallels the government’s commitment to provinces and territories. No details provided
Update to “Provincial Commitments to Indigenous Early Childhood Education”: British Columbia
April 19, 2021 – The Métis Nation of BC announced Miyoopimatishihk (Wellbeing) Program that provides access for supports for early childhood development for Métis families with children birth to eight. The Ministry of Education will distribute information about the program to Métis families enrolled in the Métis Family Connections Program.

Education for Reconciliation

Call to Action 62i

Consultations on mandatory Indigenous K-12 education reform: curriculum content

Update to ” F/P/T Mandatory K-12 Curriculum Development Actions: Alberta ((incl. in IW web redesign in Fall)
May 25, 2021 – Some Alberta Indigenous leaders and an elder say the provincial government has used them or misrepresented their positions to gain endorsements for a new elementary school curriculum they do not support
Update to ” F/P/T Mandatory K-12 Curriculum Development Actions: Saskatchewan (incl. in IW web redesign in Fall)
June 7, 2021 – The new provincial Nakoda courses will be available at the 10, 20 and 30 level starting in the 2021-22 school
Update to ” F/P/T Mandatory K-12 Curriculum Development Actions: Manitoba ((incl. in IW web redesign in Fall)
April 28, 2021 – The Manitoba government is setting up a Provincial Curriculum Advisory Panel that will provide input on the development of a framework for curriculum to advance education as part of the Better Education Starts Today (BEST) strategy.

Call to Action 62iii

Provide necessary funding to Aboriginal schools to utilize Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods

Update to “Funding for Aboriginal Schools”: Saskatchewan ((incl. in IW web redesign in Fall)
April 21, 2021 – Saskatchewan government invests $60M over 2 years in post-secondary education to Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Gabriel Dumont Institute
Update to “Funding for Aboriginal Schools”: Ontario ((incl. in IW web redesign in Fall)
May 17, 2021 – Through innovative funding from the province and education non-profits, member institutes of the Indigenous Institutes Consortium (IIC) will be developing and improving virtual learning in Ontario for Indigenous learners

Call to Action # 65

New Section: University Actions Towards Research Practices to Support Reconciliation
May 31, 2021 – The Memorandum of Understanding honours the ongoing relationship between the Métis Nation of Alberta, Rupertsland Centre for Métis Research and the University of Alberta, while also commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Rupertsland Centre for Métis Research, which was established May 31, 2011 at the U of A as the research arm for the RLI and the MNA, and as Canada’s first Métis-specific academic research centre.
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Language and Culture

Language and Culture Home Page

Current Reality
Budget 2021 proposes $275M over five years and $2M ongoing to support Indigenous languages; $14.9M over four years to preserve Indigenous heritage and $108.8M over two years for cultural spaces
April 19, 2021 – Funding will support various initiatives such as language and culture camps, mentor-apprentice programs and the development of Indigenous languages resources and documentation as well as preserving access to language and cultures

Current Problems and Issues in Indigenous Language and Culture

Québec’s Bill 96 “An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec” ignores the impact on Indigenous language and treaty rights
May 14, 2021 – The Assembly of First Nations Québec-Labrador warns that the survival and development of one language must never be at the expense of another language and must never be based on coercion
Denial of access to education for Inuit youth who are prohibited from speaking Inuktuk and/or English
May 19, 2021 – Inuit youth in customary care in Québec are denied access to quality education by prohibitions against speaking Inuktuk and/or English when placed outside of their territory but that are allowed as long as they remain in their home communities which is not always possible

Call to Action # 14

Enact an Indigenous Languages Act

Update to “Why In Progress?”
Budget 2021 proposes $275M over five years and $2M ongoing to support Indigenous languages; $14.9M over four years to preserve Indigenous heritage and $108.8M over two years for cultural spaces
April 19, 2021 – Funding will support various initiatives such as language and culture camps, mentor-apprentice programs and the development of Indigenous languages resources and documentation as well as preserving access to language and cultures

Health

Health Home Page

Current Reality
Budget 2021 invests $3,213M to support Indigenous communities
April 19, 2021 – Budget addresses three core programs: COVID-19 community support ($1,231M), Distinctions-Based Mental Wellness ($598M) and Improving Health Outcomes in Indigenous Communities ($1,384) + $139M for Health and Wellness investments relating to MMIWG recommendations

Current Problems and Issues in Indigenous Health

Update to “Government Responses to COVID-19”
Auditor General of Canada released “Report 11 – Health Resources for Indigenous Communities—Indigenous Services Canada
May 25, 2021 – Two recommendations to indigenous Services Canada relating to supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the supply of nurses to remote First Nations communities and to review the nursing and paramedic support provided to all Indigenous communities to identify best practices
Update to “Government Responses to COVID-19”
45% of ICU patients in Manitoba are First Nation people despite representing only 10 per cent of the total population
May 19, 2021 – Manitoba is now the worst COVID-19 hotspot in North America, testament to the failed pandemic leadership of Premier Brian Pallister
Update to “Systemic Racism in Health”
Quebec government has chosen not to participate in the federal working group on forced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada, underway since 2018
May 17, 2021 – a consortia of non-Indigenous and Indigenous partners has launched an independent investigation into the issue of forced sterilization of Indigenous women in Québec
Update to “Systemic Racism in Health”
Indigenous Services Canada ordered all nurses to leave Pikangikum First Nation after the band council expelled the community’s 10-member Ontario Provincial Police force
April 9,2021 – Misconduct allegations surfaced against officers, including claims of sexual and physical assault of women who had been brought into custody. Why expel nurses during a pandemic when the issue is with the police?
Update to “Systemic Racism in Health”:
Death of Joyce Echaquan in a Québec hospital
June 9, 2021 – Anne Panasuk a special advisor to the government on Bill 79 ” An Act to authorize the communication of personal information to the families of Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to an institution” said Wednesday she believes systemic racism exists in the province
Update to “Government Responses to COVID – 19”
Manitoba’s Bill 56 The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Amendment Act”
April 19, 2021 – Pallister government is attempting to use the current COVID-19 health crisis to unilaterally usurp First Nations autonomy under the guise of a public health order.”
Update to “Systemic Racism in Health: BC”
Update to “In Plain Sight” that finds widespread systemic racism in delivery of Indigenous Health care in B.C.
April 23, 2021 – BC Government invest $45M over three years towards implementation of recommendations from “In Plain Sight”

Health Call to Action # 18

Recognize and implement the healthcare rights of Indigenous people

Update to “F/P/T Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’s Rights to Health“ – Alberta
May 3, 2021 – Alberta Human Rights Commission launches Indigenous Human Rights Strategy to fight systemic racism that Indigenous individuals and communities face in the health, education, child welfare, housing, and justice (including policing and corrections) systems
Update to “F/P/T Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’s Rights to Health“ – Québec
June 9, 2021 – Anne Panasuk a special advisor to the government on Bill 79 ” An Act to authorize the communication of personal information to the families of Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to an institution” said Wednesday she believes systemic racism exists in the province

Health Call to Action # 20

Address distinct health needs of Métis, Inuit and off-reserve First Nations

Update to “F/P/T Commitments to Off-Reserve Indigenous People”: Québec
May 28, 2021 – $27M in provincial funding to set up the first Indigenous health clinic in Quebec a collaboration between the provincial health network and services for Indigenous people, it also affirms First Nations specificities in front-line healthcare and social services

Health – Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention Home Page

Current Problems and Issues
Suicide crisis declared in Shamattawa First Nation in northern Manitoba
May 18, 2021 – The crisis started when a mother of four died by suicide on May 9. A seven-year-old child living in the community attempted suicide later, and is now hospitalized and unresponsive

Health – Drinking Water Advisories

Drinking Water Advisories Home Page

Current Reality
Indigenus Services Canada Update on Drinking Water Advisories as of March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021 – NEW INFOGRAPH – As of March 31, 2021 54 Long-Term Dinking Water Advisories remain in effect

Justice

Justice Home Page

Current Reality
Budget 2021 invests $992.8M over 5 years for justice initiatives
April 19, 2021 – Investments in three program areas: MMIWG ($57M over 5 years; Indigenous Policing and Community Safety Services ($861 over 5 years) and Access to Justice services ($74.8M)

Current Problems and Issues in Indigenous Justice

Update to “Systemic Racism in RCMP Policing”
A Tla-o-qui-aht mother of two was shot by the RCMP after they responded to a call for help
May 11, 2021 – This is the third recent shooting by the RCMP of one of our people – our population is approximately 1,150 people
Update to “Federal and Provincial Justice Inquiries: MMIWG Final Report“
Federal governments’s MMIWGs National Action Plan is panned by most Indigenous women’s advocacy groups
June 3, 2021 – Ontario Native Women’s Association, Québec Native Women, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University, Feminist Alliance for International Action, Native Women’s Association of Canada and Marion Bullard, former lead commissioner of the MMIWG Inquiry ALL find the government’s Action Plan too general and deficient in details
Update to “Issues Against Targeted Indigenous Groups”
RCMP Exclusion Zone on un-ceded Ditidaht territory is declared unlawful by BC Civil Liberties Association
May 11, 2021 – RCMP enforces injunctions against protesters who are blockading logging activity in the Fairy Creek watershed on southwest Vancouver Island
May 24, 2021: BCCLA – RCMP’s actions are overbroad in scope and constitute an inconsistent, arbitrary, and illegal exercise of police discretion to block members of the public, including legal observers and the media, from accessing the area
Update to “Federal and Provincial Justice Inquiries”
Unacceptable delays in RCMP responding to BC Civil Liberties Association by preventing the release of a civilian watchdog report into RCMP spying on Indigenous and climate advocates
April 1, 2021 – In its written submissions, the BC Civil Liberties Association argues the RCMP Commissioner’s extreme delay in responding breached her obligations under the RCMP Act and violated the BCCLA’s Charter right to freedom of expression
Update to “Court Challenges”
Update to “Reduction in second-degree murder charges in death of Barbara Kentner”
June 4, 2021 – Brayden Bushby sentenced to 8 years for manslaughter in the death of Barbara Kentner in Thunder Bay
Update to “Federal and Provincial Justice Inquiries” Québec
Update to “Viens Commission Recommendations”
June 7, 2021 – $14.1-million investment over four years to implement measures to support justice in Aboriginal and urban communities in response to the Viens Commission’s recommendations

Call to Action # 29

Settlement Agreements for those excluded from the TRC Process

Update to “Settlement for Parties Excluded from the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement: Indian Day Schools:
June 7, 2021 – A settlement has been reached with the Survivor and Descendant Class Members in the Gottfriedson Indian Residential Schools Day Scholar class action
Update to “Settlement for Parties Excluded from the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement: Newfoundland and Labrador Residential School Class Action Settlement: Mount Cashel
Jan. 14, 2021 – Supreme Court rejects appeal from the Archdiocese of St. John’s on Mount Cashel orphanage abuse liability behind by the Christian Brothers of Ireland when the organization went bankrupt from settling child abuse lawsuits in 2012

Call to Action # 30

Commit to eliminate overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody

Update to Actions to reduce overrepresentation of Indigenous People: Alberta (incl. in IW web redesign in Fall)
May 3, 2021 – The strategy is to reduce systemic racism that Indigenous individuals and communities face in the health, education, child welfare, housing, and justice (including policing and corrections) systems
Update to “Actions to reduce overrepresentation of Indigenous People: Québec (incl. in IW web redesign in Fall)
June 7, 2021 – $14.1-million investment over four years to implement measures to support justice in response to the Viens Commission’s recommendations including community justice programs through Aboriginal Friendship Centres, creating new community justice committees and expanding the use of Gladue reports

Call to Action # 31

Provide stable funding to implement alternatives to imprisonment

Updates to “F/P/T Government Commitments to Restorative Justice
June 7, 2021 – $14.1-million investment over four years to implement measures to support justice in response to the Viens Commission’s recommendations including community justice programs through Aboriginal Friendship Centres, creating new community justice committees and expanding the use of Gladue reports

Call to Action # 33

Develop culturally relevant FASD prevention Programs

Update to “Other Government Commitments to FASD Prevention Programs
April 15, 2021 – BC Representative for Children and Youth – released a report “Excluded: Increasing Understanding, Support and Inclusion for Children with FASD and their Families”

Call to Action # 41

Appoint a public Inquiry into MMIWG

Status Change to “Why In Progress” from “IN PROGRESS” to “STALLED”
June 1, 2021 – The Native Women’s Association of Canada “has lost confidence in the federal government and is walking away from the ‘toxic, dysfunctional’ process” to develop its own action plan “Our Calls, Our Actions”…
June 3, 2021 – The AFN and the AFN Women’s Council released “Breathing Life into the Calls for Justice: An Action Plan to End Violence Against First Nations Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People” with recommendations in four priority areas
June 3, 2021 – The Ontario Native Women’s Association, the largest Indigenous women’s advocacy group in Canada was not invited to participate in the development of the government’s MMIWG Action Plan
June 3, 2021 – The federal government’s MMIWG Action Plan targets June 2022 to publish the first annual report on progress in responding to the Calls for Justice and the Calls for Miskotahâ.
Update to “Indigenous Responses to Federal Government MMIWG Action Plan”
June 3, 2021 – The AFN and the AFN Women’s Council released “Breathing Life into the Calls for Justice: An Action Plan to End Violence Against First Nations Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People” with recommendations in four priority areas
June 3, 2021 – The Ontario Native Women’s Association, the largest Indigenous women’s advocacy group in Canada was not invited to participate in the development of the governments MMIWG Action Plan
New Section: Federal Government’s MMIWG National Action Plan
June 3, 2021 – Key messages from Core Working Group and the National Family and Survivors Circle and details on goals and short-term objectives to reach an Annual Progress Report for June 2022
Update to “F/P/T Responses to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women” – Ontario”
May 27, 2021 – Government of Ontario releases “Pathways to Safety” its commitment to act on the Calls for Justice in the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls…including the need for better access to stable housing, health care, education and employment
Update to “F/P/T Responses to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women” – Québec
June 3, 2021 – Government of Québec funds $28.5M for programs to address domestic violence in Nunavik, support for police forces dealing with domestic violence and recommendations from Viens Commission and MMIWG Inquiry
Update to “F/P/T Responses to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women” – PEI
June 3, 2021 – Financial support to advance the important work from the Calls to Justice of the MMIWG Final Report

Call to Action # 50

Fund establishment of Indigenous Law Institutes

Update to “Why In Progress”
May 26, 2021 – Department of Justice announced funding of $9.5M for 21 projects through the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program.that respond to the Call to Action 50
New Section to Law Institutes: “Lakehead University Bora Laskin Faculty of Law”
May 17, 2021 – The Maamawi Bimosewag – They Walk Together Institute will focus on engaging with Indigenous communities and organizations, developing curriculum and preparing law students to work with Indigenous people after they graduate

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The UN Declaration Home Page

Current Reality
Update to “Federal Government Updates”
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021 proposes $31.5M over two years to support co-development of an Action Plan for UNDRIP
Current Reality
Update to “Provincial Updates”: BC
April 23, 2021 – Budget 2021 included no funding for the Action Plan to implement UNDRIP nor any indication of how the province plans to align provincial laws with UNDRIP

Current Problems and Issues with the UN Declaration

The following “Current Problems and Issues” apply equally to the Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation as they all relate directly to Aboriginal Treaty and Rights – a foundational cornerstone of both Themes and their respective Calls to Actions.

Nova Scotia
Assembly of Mi’kmaw Chiefs are demanding Nova Scotia Lands & Forestry and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines stop issuing new exploratory and drilling permits in Pleasantvills, N.S.
June 9, 2021 – Lake Rossignol and the surrounding landscape has tremendous cultural and archaeological significance to the Mi’kmaq
Manitoba
Manitoba Conservative government issued permanent licences for Churchill River Diversion, Lake Winnipeg Regulation and Jenpeg Generating Station to Manitoba Hydro that infringe on the Aboriginal and Treaty rights
May 14, 2021 – The Summit of Treaty Five Sovereign Nations comprising of 40 First Nations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario will stand with the Treaty 5 First Nations and individual Treaty 5 holders who will be adversely impacted
Manitoba
Manitoba First Nations protest Bill 57 “Protection of Critical Infrastructure Act”
April 23, 2021 – The Treaty 5 Nations in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario will resist all permits, licenses or other land dispositions issued by the governments unless approvals are obtained by First Nations in accordance with the Declaration on Natural Resources on Treaty 5 Territory.
Alberta
Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations protest against Bill C-15 “The UN Declaration”
April 21, 2021 – They see the legislation as undermining their sovereign relationship with the government of Canada, Their treaty is with the crown and they object to Canada negotiating with the Assembly of First Nations who do not have a mandate or legal authority to negotiate on behalf of Treaty Nations
New Brunswick
Premier Blaine Higgs cancelled all tax revenue sharing agreements with New Brunswick First Nations that had been in place for over 25 years.
April 13, 2021 – The courts sided with the Wolastoqey on the tax agreements but the Premier found an alternative door out of these agreements to get his own way
Ontario
The Ontario government has allowed up to 4,000 mining claims in Grassy Narrow territory
April 12-13, 2021 – Government is ignoring “the land declaration that Grassy Narrows enacted in 2018 to ban industrial or mining activities on their territories?”
Ontario
Canada and Ontario have been collaborating behind First Nations’ backs for the last year to agree on the terms of reference for the Regional Impact Assessment for the Ring of Fire
April 5, 2021 – Attawapiskat, Fort Albany, and Neskantaga First Nations in the James Bay lowlands have declared a moratorium on April 1 on any development in or to facilitate access to the Ring of Fire until Canada and Ontario agree to a Regional Impact Assessment
Ontario
Update to “Government of Ontario appeals Robinson-Huron and Superior Treaty Annuities Claim”
April 28, 2021: The Ontario Court of Appeal concluded its hearing of the Government of Ontario’s appeal of the Stage 1 decision in the Robinson Treaties annuities case. The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision on the Stage 1 appeal, which it will likely release in the months following its hearing of the Stage 2 appeal
Northwest Territories
Update to “Giant Mine Remediation”
May 11, 2021 – Remediation procurement practices of federal government prevents Yellowknives Dene First Nations from being able to participate in a substantive and meaningful way,
Nova Scotia
Update to “The ongoing refusal of the government to define the Moderate Living Fishery
June 4, 2021 – Potlotek’s authorized harvesters will be able to fish and sell, pursuant to their Right and according to their Netukulimk Livelihood Fishery Community Plan, with the cooperation of Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Call to Action # 43

Fully adopt and implement UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation

Update to “Why In Progress?”
May 25, 2021: Bill C-15 The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” passed third reading in the House of Commons. The Liberals, NDP, Bloc Quebecois and remaining two Greens joined forces to send Bill C-15 to the Senate, with a final tally of 210 to 118. Only the Conservatives and I Independent (a former conservative) voted against the bill.
Update to F/P/T Government Commitment to UNDRIP: BC
April 23, 2021 – Budget 2021 included no funding for the Action Plan to implement UNDRIP nor any indication of how the province plans to align provincial laws with UNDRIP
Update to “Indigenous Responses to Bill C-15 The UN Declaration: Inuit Tapariit Kanatami
April 1, 2021 – The ITK Board of Directors passed a resolution to support Bill C-15 “The UN Declaration” as well as proposed amendments to strengthen the legislation through the inclusion of an independent oversight and enforcement mechanism as part of an action plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration

Call to Action # 44

Update to “Why In Progress?”
April 19, 2021 – Budget 2021 proposes $31,5M over two years, starting in 2021-22, to support the co-development of an Action Plan

Church Apologies and Reconciliation

Church Apologies Home Page

Current Reality
June 7, 2021 – Pope Francis continues to refuse offering an apology to the survivors of the Catholic run residential schools even after the unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children were discovered on the grounds of the Kamloops Residential School

Current Problems and Issues with Church Apologies

Update to “Refusal of Pope Francis or the Catholic Church to apologize”
June 7, 2021 – Catholic Church is the only church that has not apologized or accepted responsibility for the actions of members of their faith against Indigenous children

Call to Action # 58

Apology from pope to Catholic Church residential school survivors

Update to “Why Stalled?”
June 7, 2021 – Catholic Church is the only church that has not apologized or accepted responsibility for the actions of members of their faith against Indigenous children

Museum and Archives

Current Problems and issues

Update to “Outdated profiles of Prime Ministers on Library and Archives website
June 10, 2021 – The profile page of Sir John A. MacDonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister has been removed from the Library and Archives site pending an internal review of historic data

Missing Children and Burial Information

Missing Children Home Page

Current Reality
215 unmarked graves of Indigenous children were discovered at the Kamloops Indian Residential School
May 27, 2021 – This work was undertaken by the C7élksten̓ s re Secwépemc ne Ck̓ úl̓ tens ell ne Xqwelténs (Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Language and Culture Department) with ceremonial Knowledge Keepers who ensured that the work was conducted respectfully in light of the serious nature of the investigation with cultural protocols being upheld

Current Problems and Issues with Missing Children

Continued failure of the fedarl government to address Calls to Action 74-76 that have all been Not Started after t
May 28, 2021 – The Truth and Reconciliation records the death of 51 children dying at the Kamloops Residential School between 1914 and 1963. Add 215 undocumented children to that list
June 1, 2021 – In 2009, when the conservatives were in power, the TRC requested $1.5M to help locate gravesites. The request was denied
June 1, 2021 – The federal government released $27M in unused funding from a $33M budget allocation to Calls to Action # 72 and # 73 in Budget 2019 to assist communities in the search for additional unmarked graves, Nom details provided
June 2, 2021 – National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at UBC are calling on the federal government to work in collaboration with residential school Survivors and Indigenous governments to establish a national framework for investigation and protection of burial sites, consistent with the rights, laws, jurisdiction and protocols of the affected Nations
June 3, 2021 – Murray Sinclair, former commissioner of the TRC has called for an independent investigation
June 5, 2021 – The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate who operated the Kamloops Residential School “have yet to release any records about the Kamloops school. The Catholic order, which ran about 47% of Canada’s residential schools, says it has released some records while retaining control over others, claiming privacy or historical inaccuracies.

Call to Action # 74

Inform families of children who died at residential school of the child’s burial location

Federal government releases $27M from Budget 2019 allocation of $33.8M
June 1, 2021 – The federal government released $27M in unused funding from a $33.8M budget allocation to Calls to Action # 72 and # 73 in Budget 2019 to assist communities in the search for additional unmarked graves, No details provided

Call to Action # 75

Identify, protect and commemorate residential school cemeteries

Federal government releases $27M from Budget 2019 allocation of $33.8M
June 1, 2021 – The federal government released $27M in unused funding from a $33.8M budget allocation to Calls to Action # 72 and # 73 in Budget 2019 to assist communities in the search for additional unmarked graves, No details provided
Update to “Stakeholder Commitments to Preserving Residential School Cemeteries: Manitoba
June 1, 2021 – Brandon Residential Schools Cemeteries Project has identified 104 potential graves in all three cemeteries, and that only 78 are accountable through cemetery and burial records
Update to “Stakeholder Commitments to Preserving Residential School Cemeteries: Saskatchewan
May 31, 2021: Saskatoon Star Phoenix – The Federation of Sovereign Indian Nations and the province issued a joint statement calling on the federal government “to immediately commence research on undocumented deaths and burials in residential schools in Saskatchewan, including radar ground search at residential school sites.”

Call to Action # 76

All documenting, maintaining, commemoration and protecting of residential school cemeteries must adopt strategies following Indigenous principles and protocols and be community led

Federal government releases $27M from Budget 2019 allocation of $33.8M
June 1, 2021 – The federal government released $27M in unused funding from a $33.8M budget allocation to Calls to Action # 72 and # 73 in Budget 2019 to assist communities in the search for additional unmarked graves. No details provided

Commemoration

Commemoration Home Page

Current Reality
June 3, 2021 – Bill C-5 “An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)” receives Royal Assent.

Call to Action # 80

Establish a statutory holiday , “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation” to honour survivors, their families and communities and the history and legacy of residential schools and Aboriginal contributions to Canada’s history

Status Change from “IN PROGRESS” to “COMPLETE“
June 3, 2021 – Bill C-5 “An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)”a bill that designates Sept. 30 as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation passed in the Senate and receives Royal Assent.

Media and Reconciliation

Current Problems and Issues

La Presse published “senselessly documented details surrounding the deaths of Indigenous children and youth from across Quebec
April 23, 2021 – 144 Inuit are included in the database that La Presse used to published the portraits of the deceased as well as the circumstances of their death.
Update to “RCMP arrest protestors and journalists at Exclusion Zone established at Fairy Creek , B.C. “
May 24, 2021 – RCMP Exclusion Zone prevents accredited journalists from doing their jobs

Business and Reconciliation

Current Problems and Issues

Update to “Legislative Barriers
Update to “Department of Fisheries supports Fish Farming …vs pacific salmon”
April 9, 2021 – Federal Court Justice Peter George Pamel would not allow 102 First Nations along the coast are opposed to the fish farms yet they were not allowed to intervene at the court to present their objections.

Newcomers to Canada

Call to Action # 94

Update to “Why In Progress”
June 10, 2021 – Bill C-8 “An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to action number 94)” passed Third Reading in the Senate on June 10, 2021
Added Timeline for Evolution of Bill C-8

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