Truth and Reconciliation

Understanding Reconciliation

The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC) believes an awareness of the past and an acknowledgement of the harm inflicted on Indigenous communities is just the start to reconciliation.

The CRCVC is at the beginning of a journey that will someday bring it closer to being a trusted ally of Indigenous leaders and Indigenous victims of crime in Canada.

The CRCVC is committed to seeking every opportunity to support Indigenous people across Canada by advocating for their rights in Canada’s colonial legal system.

Understanding Reconciliation: Indigenous Sovereignty & Land Rights

“The term ‘reconciliation’ now covers any and all manipulations or diminution of Indigenous rights and title” writes the late Arthur Manuel, an Indigenous leader and activist from the Secwepemenc Nation, in his book The Reconciliation Manifesto. “The government and the Canadian people have fallen in love with reconciliation. They do not really seem to understand the concept but they truly love that word.”

The Truth and Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action includes Actions 25-42 which focus on Justice. CRCVC will use these actions to determine how to best play a role in ensuring these actions can move forward in a respectful and collaborative manner.

The CRCVC must develop its knowledge of Indigenous rights to assist in holding the municipal, provincial and federal government accountable to finally respecting Indigenous land rights, rights to self-determination, and to support Indigenous youth, and Land and Water Defenders in their organizing, activism and continued defense of their rights to sovereignty and self-government.

The path towards reconciliation presents a generational opportunity. The following list provides some useful links to help get the journey started.

Indigenous Movements & Grassroots Activism Related to Land

Follow the links for information provided by Indigenous Groups & Leaders

Read:

• Land back – A Yellowhead Institute Red Paper

Watch:

• LandBack: What does it mean & how do you enact it?
• Land Back: Injunctions, dispossessions, Nationhood and Indigenous Sovereignty
• Weaponizing Injunctions: How Canada criminalizes Indigenous land defense

• Idle No More
• Defenders of the Land
• Truth Before Reconciliation
• Tools for Indigenous Family Survivors of Violence

Indigenous Rights as Recognized in Canada

Canadian Constitution & Charter of Rights & Freedoms

Read:

• Aboriginal Rights – Indigenous Foundations UBC

Watch:

• Aboriginal Rights as Economic Rights – Lecture by Arthur Manuel
• Understanding Indigenous rights and title in Canada – Interview with Jack Woodward

Listen:

• Indigenous Land Rights and Reconciliation Podcast – Queen’s University

Quick Reference

• Section 25 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees that no rights protected under the Charter will be used to overrule or diminish rights belonging to Aboriginal people, and recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and Treaty rights.
• Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution – “The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.”
• Section 37 – Canada was committed to holding a conference with Indigenous peoples to define the content of Section 35 rights. This process was abandoned in 1987.

Indigenous Rights as Recognized Internationally

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP)

Read:

• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People – United Nations
• The UNDRIP in Canada (including timeline) – Yellowhead Institute

Watch:

• UNDRIP Implementation in Canada and Treaty Indian Jurisdiction – Andre Bear
• How UNDRIP Changes Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous People

Key Articles

• Article 3 – Self-Determination: “Indigenous peoples have the right of self-determination.”
• Article 10 – FPIC: “Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories.”
• Article 18 – Decision-Making: “Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights.”
• Article 26 – Land Rights: “Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired.”

Canadian Law (Bill C-15) & UNDRIP

Canadian law as it currently aligns with UNDRIP

Read:

• Analysis of Federal Bill C-15 – Indigenous Activists Network
• C-15: What you need to know – CTV News

Bill C-15 – “This enactment provides that the Government of Canada must take all measures necessary to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and must prepare and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration.”

“We will know that Canada is finally decolonized when Indigenous peoples are exercising our inherent political and legal powers in our own territories up to the standard recognized by the United Nations, when your (Canadian) government has instituted sweeping policy reform based on Indigenous rights standards and when our future generations can live in sustainable ways on an Indigenous designed and driven economy.”
— Arthur Manuel, The Reconciliation Manifesto

Have you ever been a victim of crime and are looking for Indigenous specific resources? Please visit our Resource Directory.