Residential Schools: A Century of Cultural Genocide
1. The restoration of friendly feelings
2. The action of making one view or belief compatible with another
Rec•on•cil•i•a•tion
noun
Moving towards Reconciliation
1907- P. Bryce report on conditions in residential schools
1949- Canada Senate report with recommendations that aboriginal children attend mainstream schools issued
1951- First major amendments to the Indian Act made, for the better
1969- Legislation passed to close residential schools; government takes full control
1986- The United (Methodist) Church issues a formal apology to residential school survivors and their families.
1988- First of many residential school civil claims filed
1991- Order of Priests for western Catholic residential schools issues an apology
1993- The Anglican Church of Canada issues a formal apology to residential school survivors and their families
1994- The Presbyterian Church of Canada issues a formal apology to residential school survivors and their families
1996- The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Report released, recommending an inquiry into the impacts residential schools had
1996- Assembly of First Nations negotiates for a healing fund of 350 $ million for survivors
1998- Aboriginal Healing Foundation funded
1998- Apology issued by current minister of Indian Affairs for sexual and physical abuse
2001- Government begins negotiations with the four churches
2006- All parties formerly involved in residential schools sign the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement for compensation of former students
2008- Government issues formal apology to residential school survivors and their families
2009- Truth and Reconciliation Commission launched with a goal of researching primary sources for the record of experiences and make recommendations of action ought to be carried out in order for reconciliation to take place
2014- TRC holds its last gathering
2015- TRC releases calls to action to begin reconciliation
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was an action required by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2009. This commission ended its work in 2014. The purpose of establishing this commission was to acquire, through primary sources, information with a goal of bridging the gap between First Nations, the government and the churches involved. This was done by holding gatherings attended by masses of residential school survivors and their loved ones, in order to hear witness testimony and promote healing. The commission combined testimonies from over 7000 survivors, doing so in seven national events.
Tasked with the lead of the TRC was Justice Murray Sinclair, the first aboriginal Judge in Manitoba. His job was to listen, and combine testimonies, with the purpose of creating a number of recommendations to various groups in order to achieve what is believed to be true reconciliation.
This document, the "Truth and Reconciliation: Calls to Action" was composed after six years of work. The document of reference aims to mend relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
