On July 2, 2020 a “Reconciliation Framework for Canadian Archives” was released by the Canadian Association of Archivists who had received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant to fulfill its mandate of responding to C2A # 70. 

The Truth and Reconciliation Task Force (TRC-TF) was established with three primary goals:

• To identify, by working with Indigenous communities, how Canada’s archives might move towards reconciliation, in light of both UNDRIP and UNJOP.
• To produce recommendations for full implementation of the findings of the above research.
• To design a reconciliation framework, in collaboration with Indigenous communities, which actively engages and includes Indigenous cultural memory-keepers, their perspectives and methodologies, within the Canadian archival system.

The Vision, 6 Principles, 7 Objectives and 33 Strategies are intended to form a practical framework supporting the Canadian archival community as it begins to redress its colonial legacy. This document, “A Reconciliation Framework for Canadian Archives,” is the result of this collaborative work. The Vision, 6 Principles, 7 Objectives and 33 Strategies presented herein are intended to form a practical framework supporting the Canadian archival community as it begins to redress its colonial legacy. This framework is intended to be used as a living document, evolving as the framework is put into practice. 

Identified Principles 

All Canadian archivists accept the responsibility of proactive respectful engagement led by Indigenous community priorities. 

The Canadian archival community acknowledges that this work requires sustained investments in human and financial resources. The equitable sharing of such resources is essential to building capacity in Indigenous and archival communities. 

The Canadian archival community commits to, and advocates for, shifting institutional priorities to respond to the needs of Indigenous communities. 

The Canadian archival community supports future generations by working collaboratively with Elders and Youth in the revitalization of Indigenous memory, knowledge, governance and legal systems. 

The Canadian archival community acknowledges that Indigenous peoples – First Nations, Inuit, and Métis – are diverse, distinct and sovereign nations. 

The Canadian archival community is committed to reconciliation and relationship building guided by the principles of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and United Nations Joinet- Orentlicher Principles and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. 

Objectives

Relationships of Respect, Responsibility, Relevance and Reciprocity (7)

The Canadian archival community shall engage the Four Rs of responsibility, respect, relevance and reciprocity in building relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations and heritage institutions. 

Governance and Management Structures (4)

The Canadian archival community’s leaders shall ensure their organizational culture, operations and hiring processes support archives staff in building sustainable community relationships and implementing respectful professional practices. 

Professional Practice (5)

The Canadian archival community shall build a body of professional practice that is committed to decolonization and reconciliation. 

Ownership, Control and Possession (5)

The Canadian archival community shall recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples’ intellectual sovereignty over archival materials created by or about them. 

Access (3)

The Canadian archival community shall support Indigenous Peoples’ right to know about and control access to archival materials created by or about them. 

Arrangement and Description (4)

The Canadian archival community shall integrate Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, languages, histories, place names and taxonomies into the arrangement and description of Indigenous-related archival materials and collections. 

Education (5)

Canadian archival education programs shall integrate Indigenous research theory, history, methodologies and pedagogical practices into current and future curricula.