We call upon Library and Archives Canada to:
- Fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher Principles, as related to Aboriginal peoples’ inalienable right to know the truth about what happened and why, with regard to human rights violations committed against them in the residential schools.
- Ensure that its record holdings related to residential schools are accessible to the public.
- Commit more resources to its public education materials and programming on residential schools.
Why “In Progress?”
The “Indigenous Heritage Action Plan” released in April, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada (LAC) recognizes Indigenous rights and increases access to LAC’s collection through 28 specific actions. The Action Plan also directly addresses UNDRIP and the United Nations Joinet – Orentlicher Principles in the ‘Purpose and Principles” section of the Indigenous Heritage Action Plan but not directly through any of the specific actions.
With respects to iii LAC has updated its profile of John A MacDonald to reflect his role as the primary architect of the Indian residential schools as well as other racist policies of forced assimilation and disenfranchisement in order to advance the nation building of CP Rail. The problem is that the site is difficult to find and not as accessible as the previous “whitewashed” version.
Current Status
In Progress
Call to Action
last updated
January 24, 2024
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