Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Statement – 2024

TRC Statement – 2024

On this Truth and Reconciliation Day, CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks stands in solidarity with First Peoples across Turtle Island. This day is a solemn reminder of the historical and ongoing injustices faced by First People communities due to colonial policies, including the Indian Residential and Day School systems as well as similar experiences faced by Inuit. It is also a day to honour the resilience, strength, and wisdom of First Peoples as well as to commit to the ongoing journey of reconciliation.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, with its 94 Calls to Action, is a cornerstone document that outlines the path towards healing and justice. The importance of this report cannot be overstated. It provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the multi-generational trauma inflicted upon First People communities as well as for fostering a renewed nation-to-nation relationship based on mutual respect, recognition of rights, and partnership.

Truth and Reconciliation Day serves as a powerful catalyst for awareness and education. It compels all people in Canada to confront the painful truths of our shared history and to acknowledge the enduring impacts of colonialism. This day encourages reflection on the systemic inequities that persist and the urgent need for collective action to dismantle these structures.

For CAAN, the impact of Truth and Reconciliation Day reinforces our commitment to decolonization and reconciliation through our various initiatives such as harm reduction with the Dr. Peter’s Centre. We work tirelessly to address the legacy of gender-based violence, abuse, and the imposition of colonial diseases that have disproportionately affected First People communities. By building coalitions with like-minded organizations including the HIV Legal Network and REACH Nexus, we strive to improve health outcomes and social determinants of health for First Peoples, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), as well as sexually transmitted blood-borne infections (STBBI).

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey, and there is still a long path ahead. Advancing the core aspects of the TRC report requires sustained effort and collaboration. We must dismantle harmful practices and institutions to uphold First Peoples’ rights by honouring these key calls to action:

• TRC Call 19: Close health gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

• TRC Call 30: Eliminate the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in custody.

• MMIWG Call 3.1: Ensure equitable health and wellness for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA persons.

• MMIWG Calls 3.2, 3.4, 7.1, 7.2: Fund accessible, culturally appropriate health services, including trauma and addictions treatment.

Enacting and enforcing policies that uphold the rights of First Peoples, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as well as the UNDRIP Act, is necessary. This includes recognizing and respecting Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. Providing ongoing support for survivors of the Residential and Day School systems and their families is critical. This includes access to mental health services, crisis lines, and community-based healing programs. Promoting and supporting the revitalization of First People languages, traditions, and ways of knowing is fundamental to reconciliation. CAAN is dedicated to reclaiming Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Doing (IWKD) to restore cultural pride and identity.

On this Truth and Reconciliation Day, CAAN calls on all people in Canada to embrace the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action and the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 231 Calls to Justice. Let us work together to create a future where First Peoples can thrive in a society that respects and honors their contributions, rights, and sovereignty.

To all our relations, we offer love, light, and solidarity.

Residential and Day School survivors, and those in need of help processing this grief, can access support from the Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.