Current Problems

Urban Commitments to Reconciliation

The TRC Calls to Action in BC Municipalities

January 12, 2023

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Progress, Barriers, and Opportunities to Accelerate Implementation

Women Transforming Cities: Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released its final report in 2015, Indigenous communities have been calling on all levels of government to implement the Calls to Action. We all have a responsibility to contribute to truth telling, reconciliation, and decolonization. Municipalities in particular — as the level of government closest to our day to day lives — have a unique role to play in implementing the Calls to Action.

With guidance from Indigenous leaders and organizations, Women Transforming Cities sought to apply our experience and relationships with local governments in BC to understand:

  • What progress municipalities have made towards implementing 10 Calls to Action that are explicitly directed toward local governments
  • What barriers are slowing and stalling action
  • What local government leaders need in order to accelerate action

We heard from representatives in almost half of all municipalities in BC, ranging from villages of less than 400 people to cities of more than 650,000 and spanning every region of the province.

Tracking progress and identifying common challenges in implementing the Calls to Action provides an opportunity to find solutions to advance this crucial work more quickly. The goal of this research and report is to see these barriers addressed and empower more municipalities to make meaningful progress towards truth telling and reconciliation.

https://www.womentransformingcities.org/_files/ugd/285f92_e803e9cd6b35414da36fb320180d37c8.pdf

In this report you will find
  • Background on why we did this work, our methodology, and who we heard from.
  • A summary of key  findings, including the state of progress on the Calls to Action and key barriers
  • Recommendations for accelerating implementation.
  • Actions and challenges from municipal leaders in their own words
  • Analysis of 10 Calls to Action for local governments, including a snapshot of progress, common challenges, how it relates to municipalities, and tangible examples of what local government action looks like on the ground.
  • Takeaways for municipalities as they continue to advance the TRC Calls to Action.
Actions you can take to support this work

Share this report with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, pointing out the support local governments, First Nations, and Urban Indigenous communities need to made progress on the Calls to Action. 

Email this report to your Mayor and Council, and ask them what progress has been made in your community on implementation of the Calls to Action. Hold them accountable by asking for regular updates.

Share this report on social media to amplify the message that municipalities have an important role to play in accelerating the Calls to Action.

Amplify and support Indigenous organizations in your local community — ask if specific Calls to Action are a priority for them.

Donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors’ Society.

Key Barriers Preventing Action
  • Limited Resources and Staff Capacity
  • Lack of Awareness, Knowledge-Sharing and Education
  • Lack of Clarity and Direction from Senior Governments 
  • Lack of Political Will and Prioritization

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