Northern Indigenous leader on federal progress of reconciliation calls to action
As an Indigenous leader from northern Ontario reflects on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, he says political will is needed to complete the remaining 78 or so calls to action in connection to the Canadian residential school system.
Seven years ago, the National Truth and Reconciliation Committee released its report on the Canadian residential school system and recommended 94 calls to action.
But the total number of those completed depends on who you ask.
To date, the federal government said 17 have been implemented, but several groups, such as Indigenous Watchdog, say it considers several of those calls to action incomplete.
Derek Archibald, the deputy chief of Taykwa Tagamou Nation, said the federal government is lacking the political will to complete the remaining calls to action.
"The federal government has said that the relationship with Indigenous people is the most important, but 16 out of the 94 calls to action speaks for itself. What we need is will behind the words," Archibald said.
"I was just speaking with Cindy Blackstock prior to this interview and yeah, we both agree, you know, the calls to action from one to six are the most important. You know, we need to stop the inequity that the First Nation children face versus the general population."
Taykwa Tagamou Nation Deputy Chief Derek Archibald (left) with Cindy Blackstock (centre) in Ottawa. Sept. 30/22 (Supplied)
Blackstock (centre) is an advocate for Indigenous children's rights and was the driving force of a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case against the federal government in connection with discriminatory child welfare practices against First Nation children on reserve.
Archibald (left) said the biggest challenge his First Nation community is facing is the continued underfunding of services for child welfare, health and education.
He and a group of members from his community have gathered in Ottawa to take part in activities for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Members of a northern Ontario First Nation gather in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Sept. 30/22 (Supplied)
Members of Taykwa Tagamou Nation meet in Ottawa for activities related to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Sept. 30/22 (Supplied)
"I have deep, mixed emotions about it, yeah. Personally, it's a day to reflect on my family's involvement in the residential schools. On the other hand, I'm happy to be here in Ottawa with our community members. It's great to see so many people wearing orange shirts in the streets. It shows that they're recognizing our history," the deputy chief said.
"On the other hand, it's just one day of recognition, right? It just shows what survivors have gone through, what they live with every day and the ongoing trauma that our communities face because of the residential schools that were imposed upon us."
He wants non-Indigenous people to understand the history of First Nation Peoples in Canada.
"I'm 32 and the last residential school closed while I was still alive. It wasn't long ago, but it's important history to reflect on. Today's a great day to do that reflection," Archibald said.
"I think it's important for non-Indigenous people to participate in today's activities and just to understand the whole purpose of it and just to understand the history."
Taykwa Tagamou Nation has approximately 700 members with about 176 living on the reserve near Cochrane, Ont.
He said the current issues happening in his community due to the intergenerational trauma caused by the residential school system has affected him and was a big part of his motivation to run for council.
"Part of my work is to help our people heal," Archibald said.
A crowd wearing orange shirts march in Ottawa on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Sept. 30/22 (Taykwa Tagamou Nation)
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
The ongoing intergenerational trauma caused by the residential school system can cause distress for some Indigenous people. If you or someone you know is struggling, help and support are available. Find more information here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
A teen was found buried in a basement in New York. An engraved ring helped police learn her identity two decades later
For more than two decades, the unknown victim was nicknamed "Midtown Jane Doe" because she was found in the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood of New York City. But this week, investigators finally revealed her identity.