Steps to Reconciliation

While there is no possible way to go back in time and completely right the wrongs that have been committed against indigenous peoples, the government and the catholic church are taking steps in resolving some of the issues. One prime example of this is Pope Francis’ recent trip to Edmonton to make his first ever formal apology to approximately two thousand “residential school survivors, Chiefs, leaders, elders, knowledge keepers and youth from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.” This acknowledgement of the harm residential schools caused Indigenous families and continues to cause them due to intergenerational trauma is a step in the right direction to begin a healing process. An example of the Canadian government's movement toward reconciliation is with their commitment to fixing reservation drinking water crises’. In particular, “$5.3 billion in new funding announced since 2015, 131 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted on reserve as of March 21, 2022, and 212 short-term drinking water advisories have been prevented from becoming long-term.”

Of course, the land taken from Indigenous peoples cannot be given back, and there is no time machine to undo the harm done at residential schools and from children being taken from their families in the sixties scoop; however, it appears that the government and the church are finally moving in a positive direction to do what they can to make amends. Additionally, instead of looking down on Indigenous people’s ways of life with an overall superior attitude and attempting to force the Eurocentric way of life on them, they are acknowledging these past actions were wrong.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-07/canada-pope-reiterates-shame-for-indian-residential-schools.html

https://budget.gc.ca/2022/report-rapport/chap7-en.html

Hey Rachel! Great post. I agree in that I am happy that we are finally beginning to see the Canadian government and other inflential figures like the Pope apoligize and try to make amends for the wrongdoings of our past. It is definitely a step in the right direction towards acheving peace and reconciliation. Although, one area that I feel that we can improve upon, is the living conditions and supports we provide to the various reservations across Canada. Many Indigenous reservations are still without access to clean water, food, and other basic amenities, and this is why we are seeing so many "mentally ill" people commiting suicide and/or being impacted by serious alcoholism and drug addictions. That being said, society has changed for the better, and humanity is more aware and willing to take actions to combat our previous injustices.