Truth and Reconciliation

Calls to Action identified by the RMWB Internal Steering Committee

5. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate parenting programs for Aboriginal families.

7. We call upon the federal government to develop with Aboriginal groups a joint strategy to eliminate educational and employment gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

8. We call upon the federal government to eliminate the discrepancy in federal education funding for First Nations children being educated on reserves and those First Nations children being educated off reserves.

11. We call upon the federal government to provide adequate funding to end the backlog of First Nations students seeking a post-secondary education.

12. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Aboriginal families.

16. We call upon post-secondary institutions to create university and college degree and diploma programs in Aboriginal languages.

22. We call upon those who can effect change within the Canadian health-care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by Aboriginal patients.

31. We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to provide sufficient and stable funding to implement and evaluate community sanctions that will provide realistic alternatives to imprisonment for Aboriginal offenders and respond to the underlying causes of offending.

40. We call on all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal people, to create adequately funded and accessible Aboriginal-specific victim programs and services with appropriate evaluation mechanisms.

57. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

75. We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential school students, and current landowners to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children.

77. We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal, and community archives to work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to identify and collect copies of all records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system, and to provide these to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

79. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal organizations, and the arts community, to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. This would include, but not be limited to:

1. Amending the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and its Secretariat.
2. Revising the policies, criteria, and practices of the National Program of Historical Commemoration to integrate Indigenous history, heritage values, and memory practices into Canada’s national heritage and history.
3. Developing and implementing a national heritage plan and strategy for commemorating residential school sites, the history and legacy of residential schools, and the contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canada’s history.

88. We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorial team preparation and travel.

Calls to Action identified within the TRC Calls to Action Report that call on all municipal levels of Government

43. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.

47. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.

Calls to Action identified within the TRC Calls to Action Report that call on all levels of Government

3. We call upon all levels of government to fully implement Jordan’s Principle.

17. We call upon all levels of government to enable residential school Survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system by waiving administrative costs for a period of five years for the name-change process and the revision of official identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers.

23. We call upon all levels of government to:

1. Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health-care field.
2. Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health-care providers in Aboriginal communities.
3. Provide cultural competency training for all health-care professionals.

53. We call upon the Parliament of Canada, in consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to enact legislation to establish a National Council for Reconciliation. The legislation would establish the council as an independent, national, oversight body with membership jointly appointed by the Government of Canada and national Aboriginal organizations, and consisting of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members. Its mandate would include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Monitor, evaluate, and report annually to Parliament and the people of Canada on the Government of Canada’s post-apology progress on reconciliation to ensure that government accountability for reconciling the relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Crown is maintained in the coming years.
2. Monitor, evaluate, and report to Parliament and the people of Canada on reconciliation progress across all levels and sectors of Canadian society, including the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
3. Develop and implement a multi-year National Action Plan for Reconciliation, which includes research and policy development, public education programs, and resources.
4. Promote public dialogue, public/private partnerships, and public initiatives for reconciliation.

55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to:

1. The number of Aboriginal children—including Métis and Inuit children—in care, compared with non-Aboriginal children, the reasons for apprehension, and the total spending on preventive and care services by child-welfare agencies.
2. Comparative funding for the education of First Nations children on and off reserves.
3. The educational and income attainments of Aboriginal peoples in Canada compared with non-Aboriginal people.
4. Progress on closing the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.
5. Progress on eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in youth custody over the next decade.
6. Progress on reducing the rate of criminal victimization of Aboriginal people, including data related to homicide and family violence victimization and other crimes.
7. Progress on reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice and correctional systems.

64. We call upon all levels of government that provide public funds to denominational schools to require such schools to provide an education on comparative religious studies, which must include a segment on Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders.

87. We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history.

Additional RMWB Identified Calls to Action (September 2021)

1. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to commit to reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care by:

1. Monitoring and assessing neglect investigations.
2. Providing adequate resources to enable Aboriginal communities and child-welfare organizations to keep Aboriginal families together where it is safe to do so, and to keep children in culturally appropriate environments, regardless of where they reside.
3. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly educated and trained about the history and impacts of residential schools.
4. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly educated and trained about the potential for Aboriginal communities and families to provide more appropriate solutions to family healing.
5. Requiring that all child-welfare decision makers consider the impact of the residential school.

13. We call upon the federal government to acknowledge that Aboriginal rights include Aboriginal language rights.

14. We call upon the federal government to enact an Aboriginal Languages Act that incorporates the following principles:

1. Aboriginal languages are a fundamental and valued element of Canadian culture and society, and there is an urgency to preserve them.
2. Aboriginal language rights are reinforced by the Treaties.
3. The federal government has a responsibility to provide sufficient funds for Aboriginal-language revitalization and preservation.
4. The preservation, revitalization, and strengthening of Aboriginal languages and cultures are best managed by Aboriginal people and communities.
5. Funding for Aboriginal language initiatives must reflect the diversity of Aboriginal languages.

66. We call upon the federal government to establish multiyear funding for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation and establish a national network to share information and best practices.

82. We call upon provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with Survivors and their organizations, and other parties to the Settlement Agreement, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools Monument in each capital city to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.

92. We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects.
2. Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.
3. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

We sent letters of engagement to:

• All six First Nation Chiefs
• Six Métis leaders
• One non-status group
• The Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre

We created the TRC Steering Committee made up of members from our departments to address the 94 Calls to Action.

We held a session for the TRC Steering Committee on the historical context of TRC and identified the Calls to Action that we can act on.

Council approved further engagement with Indigenous partners about TRC and the Calls to Action.

The TRC Steering Committee identified 14 Calls to Action that the Municipality had the ability to implement and influence.

We hosted our first Calls to Action Symposium on June 28, 2017 and addressed how we could implement the TRC's Calls to Action. Rural and urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents attended. There was also representation from Athabasca Tribal Council, Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre, Keyano College and local social profit organizations.

We held a Council meeting in the community of Fort McKay. This was the first Council meeting held in a rural community in over 17 years.

We released the 2018-2021 RMWB Strategic Plan. Rural and Indigenous communities. Indigenous partnerships were identified as a critical area of focus with four key strategic priorities:

1. Truth and Reconciliation
2. Indigenous Consultation Policy
3. Advocacy for Indigenous Communities
4. Inclusion and Partnerships

The TRC Steering Committee met for an update on initiatives.

We added nine Calls to Action for a total of 23 Calls that we can help influence or implement.

A TRC Report is in development. This report will detail the municipal response to truth and reconciliation. There are several phases in this process:

• Collect data and input from 2017's TRC symposium
• Collect data and input from the 2019 TRC Sharing Circle
• Meet with our Indigenous partners and including their perspectives and ideas
• Meet with residents of the RMWB
• Review report and present to Council

The TRC Sharing Circle at Shell Place included over 100 participants from the local Indigenous and non-Indigenous community that provided feedback and insight for next steps moving forward.

• Indigenous Awareness Learning opportunities for RMWB employees
• RMWB 2018 - 2021 Strategic Plan Priorities
• Partnerships for Commemoration and Awareness
• The completion of two TRC eLearning modules that were developed with local Indigenous input.
• The launch of the quarterly newsletter titled "Reconciliation" - detailing the ongoing municipal response to Reconciliation in Wood Buffalo.
• The ongoing partnership with the Reconciliation Advisory Circle

June, September, and December 2020

“Reconciliation” Newsletter editions released.

September 30, 2020

RMWB commemorates national ‘Orange Shirt Day,’ honouring attendees and Survivors of Residential Schools and their families.

February 2021

Strategic Plan progress updates published, aligned with Truth and Reconciliation priority initiatives.

May 5, 2021

By Council Proclamation, the RMWB recognizes the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People.

June 2021

RMWB marks June 21, 2021, as National Indigenous Peoples Day and celebrates the month of June and National Indigenous History month; annual Reconciliation Newsletter edition marking these occasions published.

July 7, 2021

Memorial Gathering of Solidarity at Syne Point Park honouring the Survivors and victims of Residential Schools.

August 19, 2021

RMWB launches 6 week Reconciliation Challenge Initiative leading up to the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.

September 14, 2021

Responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action: Principles for a Collaborative Pathway in Wood Buffalo Report released to coincide with the Council meeting on this date.