Municipality adopts three additional Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action

At last night’s Council meeting, the Responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo – 2023 Annual Update was shared. This report details the work the Municipality is doing in collaboration with Indigenous partners and communities to advance the TRC Calls to Action in the region.

“The legacy of residential schools continues to impact Indigenous Peoples and communities across this region and Canada,” said Dennis Fraser, Director of Indigenous and Rural Relations. “The recent initiatives and ongoing collaboration with Indigenous communities are steps in the right direction, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Reconciliation happens when we all commit to listening, learning, and acting. There are many opportunities to participate in local TRC events and programs.”  

Additional Calls to Action adopted  

Council approved three more Calls to Action for formal adoption by the Municipality. While there are 94 Calls to Action, the Municipality adopts those it can act on or influence through collaboration or advocacy. The RMWB has now adopted 33 Calls to Action, which is amongst the most for municipalities across Canada.

The Calls to Action recently adopted are:

• Call to Action 45: Calls upon the Government of Canada to jointly develop a Royal Proclamation with Aboriginal Peoples to be issued by the Crown.
• Call to Action 69:  Encourages libraries to allocate more resources to public education and programming on residential schools.
  • While Call to Action 69 was just officially adopted, this work is already underway with the Wood Buffalo Regional Library (WBRL) through the It’s Time to Read Book Club. WBRL also offers more programs and resources to educate residents about the history and legacy of residential schools. 
• Call to Action 93: Calls on governments to create or revise information kits for newcomers to include the diverse Aboriginal peoples of Canada, including Treaties and the history of residential schools.

Truth and Reconciliation is a key priority identified in Council’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. 

A Collaborative Pathway Forward

The second annual report highlights the Municipality’s collaborative efforts with Indigenous partners and communities to advance the adopted Calls to Action. A few examples of this work include:  

• Revitalizing Indigenous languages, specifically Cree and Dene, through events, signage, and communication materials.
• Establishing the Missing or Murdered and Exploited Indigenous Peoples (MMEIP) Taskforce
• Observing the National Day or Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day) 
• Facilitating Additions to Reserve
• Facilitating Protocol Agreements
• Partnering in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Memorial Walk and Gathering
• Implementing the TRC Champions and TRC Challenge educational programming.
• Advocating for and partnering to provide equitable opportunities for Indigenous businesses

Read the full report to find more information on these initiatives and others.

Listen, learn and act

To establish and maintain a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, there must be awareness of the past, an acknowledgment of the inflicted harm, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour

Find more information and local resources dedicated to Truth and Reconciliation, including a free online Indigenous Learning Series, at rmwb.ca/trc.   

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