December 15 marked the fifth anniversary of the release of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The three TRC commissioners, Senator Murray Sinclair, Chief Willie Littlechild, and Dr. Marie Wilson, joined in a statement to express their concern for “the slow and uneven pace of implementation of the Calls to Action.”
While noting some steps forward, the commissioners also pointed to serious lags in the creation of a Council on Reconciliation, rollbacks in some provinces on developing K-12 curriculum; continuing poverty, food and housing insecurity, racism, and violence against women; and over-representation of Indigenous children in care and Indigenous peoples in the justice system.
They conclude: “This is not an anniversary for celebration, but one for national honesty, and urgent and meaningful action.”
The commissioners also hosted a public discussion, which can be viewed on Facebook.
Photo: Marie Wilson, Senator Murray Sinclair, and Chief Wilton Littlechild Credit: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation