As other causes consume the government and promises get broken, there is still value for Canadians in staying the course on Indigenous reconciliation.-By Joseph Warren

In December 2023, the Yellowhead Institute made the difficult decision to stop publishing its annual report on the Canadian government’s progress carrying out the 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The research and education center, affiliated with Toronto Metropolitan University, could see that little to no progress was being made. Forward action on all the promises and commitments was so slow, in fact, that the Institute found no calls to action were completed over the previous year, prompting the question of “What’s the point?” In many ways, the point is that once again, honoring agreements with Indigenous peoples is being swept aside. It’s trendier – and easier – to talk about disasters of the present age, like the wars in Ukraine or Israel, than to fully face the damages that happened in the past. Family destruction, child sexual abuse, societal and economic oppression… none of it makes for the kinds of “quick wins” politicians and the modern media love. However, as the talking heads try to move on to the new thing, there is room for regular Canadians to carry on the work. Indeed, staying the course with allyship, solidarity, and reconciliation when others have moved on may be where the biggest opportunities lie.

When the government steps back, real humans can step up

The government of Canada has done many things to move reconciliation along. However, at times, the political parade crowds out honest human interactions, and it is honest human interactions that will make a lasting difference in Indigenous and non-Indigenous interactions. Toward that end, as the cameras turn away, there is room for companies and individuals to step up and drive the conversation.

One example of this is Robyn Michaud-Turgeon, professor of Indigenous studies at Conestoga College. When she was going through school, she doesn’t remember having any Indigenous studies classes or discussions, nor did she see any Indigenous educators present to facilitate discussions. Now, she is stepping up as an activist and educator in Ontario schools, helping local students get the experiences and discussions she wasn’t able to have. Michaud-Turgeon is not alone. Across the provinces, individuals from Indigenous communities and allies are stepping up to guide discussions and provide representation and support to teachers who want to talk about Indigenous experiences but lack confidence and resources. While some are getting sponsorship from government agencies and corporate groups, many others are volunteers giving their time because they believe the work is that important.

Turning talking points into practical opportunities

Another pain point, beyond the government moving extremely slowly, is that many of the talking points and sound bites that came out of the initial reconciliation proposals aren’t mapping easily to the real world. For example, reducing the number of Indigenous children in foster care situations is a beautiful talking point and an acknowledgement of the harm caused by broken families. However, the percentage of Indigenous children in foster situations remains largely unchanged from where it was in 2016, according to the most recent Census data.

The practical opportunities here lie in funding and supporting the kinds of real-world support systems Indigenous families need. There’s an economic element, to be sure, in raising families out of poverty that reduces stress in the family unit. Investing in strong community spaces, parenting classes, and trauma recovery counseling helps address the legacies of residential schools and also helps eliminate some of the reasons children end up in care, too.

For companies and individuals, this means opportunities to be mentors, volunteers, and sponsors, even at times when the conversations are tough and there are no cameras or press releases. Further, the results of the time and money spent may not be immediately apparent. Generational trauma takes generations to reverse, and changing the course of history means allowing history to unroll so that course correction can be seen. It’s hard, in the trenches work, but it’s the kind of work that is needed for real change to happen.

Seizing the Opportunity to Lean Into What Works

As flashy headlines die away, Indigenous and Indigenous allies have the chance to lean into things that really work instead of simply focusing on low hanging fruit that looks good on TV. Toward that end, there has been a meaningful shift in the approach activists and allies are taking in interactions with government groups and those who need to be held accountable.

In the past, many were holding back to allow formal government groups to take the lead on reconciliation. Now, seeing how slowly things are moving – and recognizing that many of these same entities are longstanding contributors to generational and systemic inequalities – Indigenous groups and their allies are moving forward on their own. This makes for faster results but also a less complacent and more challenging tone toward paternalistic “powers that be” across the country.

Examples of this can be found in the large settlement awards recently earned by persistent First Nations lawyers. In October 2023, some $23 billion was awarded to 300,000 families, with an additional $20 billion earmarked for improving child welfare programs. Some $6.9 billion is now reserved for past water quality reparations and current water system improvements. Other lawsuits around worker exploitation, withheld revenues, and disparate hospital treatment impacts are also underway.

Concluding Thoughts

None of this would be possible if the choice had been made to wait for government groups to make things right, or to let “the authorities” figure things out. Indeed, it was often that approach that created Canada’s injustices over the decades. For this reason, while it is indeed frustrating that many are attempting to move on from reconciliation conversations, those who stay the course with allyship and solidarity in the process may go on to see the biggest changes, biggest settlements, and ultimately, the biggest rewards for their efforts and endurance.