Carolyn Bennett
The Interim Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), released today by Commissioners Justice Murray Sinclair, Chief Wilton Littlechild and Marie Wilson, is an urgent call for the Conservative government to take responsibility for the remaining barriers to reconciliation and act immediately to implement the 20 interim recommendations.
As the Commissioners write in their report, delays are simply unacceptable: “there is no reason for anyone who wants to contribute to the reconciliation process to wait until the publication of the Commission’s final reports.”
The Interim Report reinforces the Liberal Party of Canada’s long-standing call for the Harper government to urgently address the critical lack of mental health and wellness supports in the North, reinstate funding for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and fully implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Harper government must also dedicate all necessary funding to allow the TRC to realize its full mandate, and remove any bureaucratic barriers that are hampering the work of the Commission. The TRC’s 2011 Performance Report documented these barriers, and warned that it may leave the future of national research centre in doubt.
The Commission has already concluded that:
1) Residential schools constituted an assault on Aboriginal children.
2) Residential schools constituted an assault on Aboriginal families.
3) Residential schools constituted an assault on Aboriginal culture.
4) Residential schools constituted an assault on self-governing and self-sustaining Aboriginal nations.
5) The impacts of the residential school system were immediate, and have been ongoing since the earliest years of the schools.
6) Canadians have been denied a full and proper education as to the nature of Aboriginal societies, and the history of the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.”
Now is the time for the federal government to continue along the path of truth and reconciliation. We must start by implementing all the TRC’s interim recommendations.
- Carolyn Bennett
Aboriginal Affairs Critic
Ms. Bennett, thank you for your detailed and thoughtful post. I share Mr. Noel’s sentiments. And, I am utterly disgusted with the way the Harper administration is dealing with and mistreating all members of the First Nations in Canada. Save of course, those members of the First Nations who for their own reasons, refuse to accept the environmental and other evidence, and support the Keystone Pipeline or changes to their property as well as other rights. Unfortunately, the next four years are going to be typified by social and political engineering gone awry due to the implementation of measures that were first spoken about in the infancy of the Reform Party movement. I remember back then thinking that although Preston Manning was a brilliant man, he was surrounded by ignorant “rednecks” and that the Reform Party was about as likely as the Rhino Party to ever get anywhere near power in Canada. Well, obviously I was wrong. Now it is time to tear the veneer off of the Conservatives by using a page from the Bill Clinton, and Barrack Obama playbook, beat them at their own game. Use facts, but accept the fact that the electorate is going to be herded best through the use of Fox News and Sun Media type communication – short and incendiary. Let’s raise money, increase membership, build coalitions (with groups such as the First Nations, unions, and the retired), and then completely overwhelm the Harper Administration and NDP in four years.
Truth and reconciliation commission of canada.Glad to see the LPC putting forth continued efforts in regards to these issues of humanity.Something is either true or not,and the truth really does set us free.Thank you Mme Carolyn Bennett for your great work in spearheading this operation for the LPC.I have close friends and acquiantences who are first nations and metis people,and feel blessed for this,as they share there beautiful and powerful culture so freely.It is awesome to see aboriginal peoples becoming more empowered each day now,by embracing there rich cultures which has been there foundation and anchor in life for many millenium.I am a metis person and believe the metis can be an effective bridge in aboriginal and nonaboriginal relations.Also I think Chief Atleo is a very good leader,and not just for aboriginal peoples,but could play an effective role in delivering solutions to all cultures of canada and the world.When the aboriginal chiefs of canada take there rightful place at the table,then canada will experience profound change that will deliver a kind of equality and wisdom based leadership that has been unseen to date.