As I read through the 94 Recommendations listed in the Truth and Reconciliation’s “Calls to Action” http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
I saw that it had sub-headings, so I’m wondering if it
may help us to plan further action if either individuals or groups could begin
by working at one “section” at a time.
At this point, a special note to my dear First Peoples
friends who have allowed me to walk with them for so many years past:
N’wiijkiwenh: I hope you know that I am not including you
in these suggestions – in that I learned long ago that First Peoples do not
need me – Zhaaginaashii-kwe (white woman) – to tell them anything; rather, I
have spent half my life learning how to listen to you as you shared with me
your good teachings and your Anishnaabemowin
(Ojibwe language), all of which has greatly enriched my life, and for which
I say a profound gchi miigwech.
But we – The Rest of Us who have come to live among you –
can sometimes feel simply overwhelmed at the scope of the devastation wrought
upon your People throughout our shared history, and so we must find ways of
coping. For me, this is one way of
trying to cope, because I really do want to make amends, to seek a new
relationship with you, the First Peoples of Turtle Island, based on the equality,
respect, peace and friendship that I think these Recommendations are calling
for.
Back to my people:
Thus, under “Legacy”, there are five sections concerning Child
Welfare, Education, Language & Culture, and Health and Justice, with
several actions listed under each, numbered 1 - 42.
A person, or a
group, could perhaps check out the heading which holds particular interest, and
think about how you could move forward towards putting one of more of those
recommendations into practice.
The second section is headed “Reconciliation”, and lists
17 more Recommendations:
Canadian Government and the United Nations Declaration
of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ONDRIP -
# 43-44
Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation - #
45 – 47
Settlement Agreement Parties and the UNDRIP - # 48 – 49
Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System - # 50 –
52
National Council for Reconciliation - # 53 – 56
Professional Development and Training for Public
Servants - # 57
Church Apologies and Reconciliation - # 58 – 61
Education for Reconciliation - # 62 – 65
Youth Programs - # 66
Museumsand& Archives - # 67-70
Missing Children and Burial Information - # 71 – 76
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation - # 77 –
78
Commemoration - # 79 – 83
Media and Reconciliation - # 84 – 86
Sports and Reconciliation - # 87 – 91
Business and Reconciliation - # 92
Newcomers to Canada - # 93 – 94
As you look through that list, there may be a section
that concerns particular interests you are already involved with, and so you –
or your group – may wish to think of how you could concentrate on those
particular recommendations.
This is simply my own idea, and is certainly not
sanctioned by any sort of official body, so please don’t think this is offered
in any light except as my own personal thoughts.
But if it helps you even to be willing to begin to look
at the “Calls to Action”, which represents so many long hours of dedicated
listening on our behalf, then I would commend this to your attention.
And in the words of one of my early Ojibwe language
teachers: Ni mino masen - mishkooziiwin ge.
Walk in a good way - and be strong.
