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 May 1, 2024 36% of the 94 TRC Calls to Action are either NOT STARTED or STALLED? Why?
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Indigenous Watchdog, a federally registered non-profit, is committed to transforming the reconciliation dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians into ACTION.
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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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In Progress
Stalled
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Featured Updates
Business and Reconciliation (92)
‘Buy Indigenous’ shift could add $1B to their economy
Canoes are stacked for the winter as the sun rises on the Fort Hope First Nation in northern Ontario. An eSupply Canada analysis of the……
May 9, 2024
Justice (25-42)
Mother of Tim McLean talks about his murder and use of not criminally responsible defence in court
Carol de Delley says she tried to change it after son’s killer found not criminally responsible due to mental illness. Tim McLean was murdered on……
May 8, 2024
Food Insecurity
Northern Affairs minister says ‘it’s to be determined’ if Nutrition North subsidy going to consumers
Federal government commits external review of program. The Nutrition North Canada subsidy is supposed to reduce the high cost of food in northern and remote……
May 8, 2024
Justice (25-42)
Court, family hears how Indigenous women were murdered in Winnipeg
Defence claims Jeremy Skibicki has borderline personality disorder and PTSD Warning: This article contains content that may be disturbing to readers. Discretion is advised. APTN……
May 8, 2024
Language and Culture (13-17)
Inotsiavik Centre in Labrador wins $1M Arctic Inspiration Prize
Inotsiavik Centre in Labrador wins $1 million Arctic Inspiration Prize https://player.vimeo.com/video/944251566?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: An Inuit cultural project based in northern Labrador walked away with this……
May 8, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Musée national de l’histoire du Québec – The First Nations cannot be erased from Quebec’s history
NationTalk: WENDAKE, QC – The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) wants to remind the Quebec government that Quebec’s history began long before the arrival……
May 8, 2024
Environment
Spiraling salmon populations ignite calls for urgent revisions as Alaskan fisheries continue to overfish
The federal fisheries committee will be hearing from DFO Minister Diane Lebouthillier on Thursday. APTN News: Three conservation groups met virtually with the federal fisheries……
May 7, 2024
Justice (25-42)
First Nations launch lawsuit against Ontario and federal governments claiming discrimination in policing
The lawsuit claims it is unconstitutional to refuse to require police to enforce First Nations laws and bylaws. “Under both the Police Services Act and Community Safety……
May 7, 2024
Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
Lawsuit filed by Chiefs of Ontario alleges Indigenous Affairs minister ‘made threats’ to organization over legal action
Statement of claim alleges that other ministers closed off communications after lawsuit was filed. Chiefs of Ontario Grand Chief Glen Hare speaks to reporters during……
May 7, 2024
Justice (25-42)
N.W.T. needs to spend more to protect vulnerable people in territory say MMIWG advocates
https://player.vimeo.com/video/943847499?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: A sacred fire flickered as Dene drummers sang a prayer song to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people……
May 7, 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: May 1, 2024
Continue readingWhat’s New in Indigenous Watchdog: 244 New Entries: April 1 – April 30, 2024
Calls to Action (C2A) Status: May 1, 2024 Not Started Stalled In Progress Complete 15 19 46 14 16% 20% 49% 15% Status Legacy Calls to Action(1-42) + 50-52, 62-65 Reconciliation Calls to Action(43-94) Not Started 2, 9, 10, 26, 34, 42, 51, 52, 64 45, 46, 47, 55, 56, 89 Stalled 6, 8, 12,
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