National Truth and Reconciliation Week in Canada is a significant reflection period on Canadian history and its relationship with Indigenous peoples. It is a time to acknowledge the painful legacy of colonization and residential schools; a time to focus on healing and reconciliation; and a time to honour the survivors of the residential school system and to remember the children who never returned home.
PooranLaw recognizes the long-term social, emotional, and systemic impact of historical injustices. This week, we will be taking time to acknowledge and confront some of those painful truths.
Our Commitment to Action
We actively work and will continue to work with marginalized communities who have complex pasts and who have experienced many hurdles when it comes to accessing justice.
Over the last year, we have been dissecting the 94 Calls to Action as a team. We continue to reflect on how each action applies to our work in the legal profession. We provide context to each action item and a status update when possible. We will continue this practice throughout the year and years to come.
Did you Know?
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the United Nations in 2007. At the time, Canada was one of four (4) UN countries that voted against this resolution. However, on December 3, 2020, Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was introduced to Parliament. This bill brought Canadian law into alignment with the UN resolution. The bill received royal assent on June 21, 2021. In total, 16 of the 94 Calls to Action, refer to the Declaration. Learn more about UNDRIP and in particular think about how the themes impact our work.
Following the discoveries of mass, unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential schools in the summer of 2021, survivors designed a flag as an accessible symbol to honour the lives impacted. After six weeks of consultation, discussion and sharing lived experiences with Inuit, Mi’kmaq, Atikamekw, Cree, Ojibway, Dakota, Mohawk, Dene, Nuu-chah-nulth, Secwepemc, and Métis Survivors from across Canada, the flag came to life. Learn about the Survivors’ Flag and its significance: https://nctr.ca/exhibits/survivors-flag/
Resources
- Former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.
- Read and apply the 94 Calls to Action found in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Report
- Watch or read Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s story – She launched her children’s book called The Orange Shirt Story to share her story in her own words.
- Buy an orange shirt from a recognized vendor.
- Review this Interactive Map to learn the geographical location of First Nations across Canada.
- Discover Indigenous authors, artists, and artisans with Raven’s Reads
- Call for funding proposals for 2024 community-based commemorative events for the National Truth and Reconciliation day opens November 23, 2023. Learn more here.
