TRC Calls to Action
What is the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Its mandate is to inform all Canadians about what happened in Indian Residential Schools (IRS). The Commission documented the truth of survivors, families, communities and anyone personally affected by the Indian Residential School experience. This includes First Nations, Inuit and Métis former Indian Residential School students, their families, communities, the Churches, former school employees, Government and other Canadians. View those reports here.
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In June 2015, the Big City Mayors’ Caucus of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities recognized the significant work of the TRC. The Federation called upon municipalities to work toward implementation of five of the TRC’s Calls to Action relating to municipalities.
The City led a working group to review the recommendations in the context of activities already underway to support the implementation of the recommendations, as well as identify potential new activities to undertake as a city to accomplish the intent of the recommendations. For more information, please consult the report.
TRC Calls to Action Relating to Municipalities
The following are descriptions of the five TRC Calls to Action relating to municipalities.
TRC #43 - UNDRIP
“We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as the framework for reconciliation.”
TRC #47 - Doctrine
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.
TRC #57 - Training
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.
Assiniboia Residential School Exhibit
As the City of Winnipeg continues on the Journey of Reconciliation, so do the efforts of carrying out initiatives and projects stemming from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the City’s commitment to educate its public service on the legacy of the Residential School era which also includes knowledge of local history.
On June 4, 2018, the City of Winnipeg’s Indigenous Relations unveiled a 9 panel exhibit that will inform and educate employees and the public on the Assiniboia Residential School. The unveiling included an Opening Prayer, greetings from Mayor Brian Bowman and CAO Doug McNeil and remarks from Guest Speaker Ted Fontaine from the Assiniboia Residential School Governing Council.
The Assiniboia Residential School Exhibit will be available for viewing until the end of August 2018 at the Main Floor, 510 Main Street at City Hall. Another exhibit will be located at the Millennium Library, 251 Donald Street throughout June and July.
This project was made possible with the support of City of Winnipeg Archives, Planning, Property and Development and the Winnipeg Public Library. Special acknowledgements to Assiniboia Residential School Survivors graduates, and the Assiniboia Residential School Governing Council for all of their knowledge and for sharing their stories with us.
There were 17 federally funded Indian Residential Schools in Manitoba which included one location in Winnipeg known as the Assiniboia Indian Residential School. Federally funded and operated by the Grey Nuns and Oblate Fathers, the Assiniboia Indian Residential School was part of the federal government’s educational system under the Indian Act which operated from 1958 until June 1973. The school still stands today and now functions as the Canadian Centre for Child Protection including Child Find Manitoba, the official address is 615 Academy Road of River Heights.
In addition to an ongoing commitment to the Journey to Reconciliation, the following are some of the initiatives the City is currently working on visit http://www.winnipeg.ca/indigenous/reconciliation/
TRC #75 - Cemeteries
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 honor the deceased children.
TRC #77 - Archives
We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal, and community archives to work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation 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.
Conducting Research on Indigenous Peoples and History
Keep up-to-date on what the City is doing related to the TRC Calls to Action related to municipalities by visiting the Implementation of TRC Calls to Action page.