Pathways to decolonization, Indigenization, and reconciliation
Calls to Action related to education, and education for reconciliation
“When the school is on the reserve, the child lives with its parents, who are savages; he is surrounded by savages, and though he may learn to read and write, his habits, training, and mode of thought are Indian. He is simply a savage who can read and write. It has been strongly pressed on myself, as the head of the Department, that Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence, and the only way to do that would be to put them in central training industrial schools where they will acquire the habits and modes of thought of white men.”
Canada’s First prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, told the House of Commons in 1883 when justifying the government’s residential school policy.
Colonization worldview
As part of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, they released the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action report. The report includes 94 Calls to Action related to different areas to advance reconciliation, including child welfare, education, language and culture, health, justice, and professional development and training for public servants.
Instructions: Below is a collapsible accordion with 2 sections. Select each section below to reveal additional information on the Calls to Action related to education.
Download a shareable PDF with these Calls to Action for Education.
In addition to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action report, we recommend that you also consult your home institution for Reconciliation Action Plans and Strategic Plans to see what is being done in your own institutions, how you can get involved, and what supports are available.
So, how to start? In 2015, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) released the 6 Actions of ReconciliACTION that were developed to assist the public in supporting their work towards Reconciliation:
Step 1. Review the Calls to Action and find a Call to Action related to education or education for reconciliation that speaks to you. What are you passionate about? Is there a Call to Action that addresses that passion? You do not have to do all 94 Calls to Action, but find one that you would like to champion.
Step 2. Review the 6 Actions of ReconciliACTION: Learn, understand, explore, recognize, take action, and teach others. Consider what activities you could do under each action item. Four (4) of the six (6) actions are about awareness and education. What is happening across Canada and your region? What are your strengths or interests? What resources have you found while researching reconciliation?
Step 3. Review a sample ReconciliACTION Plan for ideas of what you can do to educate yourself and advance reconciliation. Take inspiration from some of those listed activities and resources for your plan. There are many different things you can do, whether you are just starting out on your journey or are further along it.
Step 4. Set a goal in the future on when you would like to complete some of your chosen actions. Setting a goal will help keep you accountable to your ReconciliACTION Plan.
Step 5. Download the ReconciliACTION Plan Template and fill it in!
Step 6. Share your ReconciliACTION Plan with friends, family, co-workers, neighbours, and over social media.
Sources:
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. ReconciliACTION Plans. Available at: https://nctr.ca/reconciliaction-plans/. (Accessed: 10 July 2024).
People for Education. Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action for Education. Available at: https://peopleforeducation.ca/calls-to-action-for-education/. (Accessed: 10 July 2024).
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (2024) National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Available at: https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf (Accessed: 10 July 2024).
