Unit 7 Discussion

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Oct 30, 2023

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Unit 7 Discussion While I believe the Canadian government has made efforts to address the 94 calls to action, signaling its commitment to reconciliation, I think there is still a lot of work to be done. Due to the complexities of the reconciliation process, and the deep history of colonialism, I feel that the government has (mostly) unintentionally reinforced the settler-colonial state. I optimistically believe that many individuals within our government do have good intentions, however intentions do not have merit without action, and the actions simply are not there. Some ways in which the government has succeeded in completing the calls to action are through effective apologies, appointing a language commissioner, and creating a day for truth and reconciliation (Marder, 2023.) However, as mentioned in the video by Palmeter, these are superficial actions that “shouldn’t be in this political realm” (TVO, 9:52.) Although I think social change is based in political change, Palmeter is right, these surface level changes only bar true reconciliation that needs to happen to improve things like the Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and drinking water crisis, to name a few. The idea that the government's actions are more performative than due to integrity is met with proof due to the way the first calls to action were met. Up until 2020, the government took no action to satisfy their commitments to the TRC, until the unmarked graves were found. After this, they began working towards the three calls to action mentioned above (Marder, 2023.) While unfortunate, it is a positive that there was something to cause the government to take action, but it is unacceptable that this tragedy is what it took to get them there. It is also important to note that while efforts have been made to progress healing due to the residential school system, reconciliation cannot be limited to this area. In the video, Serge Simon speaks on the importance of not only looking at residential schools, but also at ‘non-

indigenous’ education, because modern colonialism exists due to what non-native children have been taught at school as well. “It is not an aboriginal problem, it’s a Canadian problem” he says (TVO, 1:31.) Palmeter speaks about how non-governmental institutions have done a good job at providing education, but I think a government policy requiring accurate historical education would be incredibly beneficial. This is because, as mentioned in the unit as well as by Fayant and others in the video, reconciliation is not an Indigenous responsibility, it is a settler responsibility (TVO, 4:26.) To correct past injustices, Canadians must commit to “unsettling” themselves, in order to allow for redistribution of power (Marder, 2023.) Education has always been a great catalyst for change and I think would allow Canadians to understand why and how they need to and can begin the process of reconciliation through “unsettling.” Canada has fulfilled the minimum commitment possible to reconcile with Indigenous people. While the country has progressed in education, language, and culture, there are still dozens of calls to action that have not been completed, nor attempted. Whether intentional or not, the Canadian government is encouraging a settler-colonial state by not prioritizing the Indigenous plight to equality, and the TRC calls to action. While apologies are appreciated, there are still ridiculous rates of Indigenous incarceration in Canada (TVO 8:35,) reserves with unclean water, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and so much more that needs resolving. Until the government can prove they are working as much as they can on fulfilling the 94 calls to action, I believe they are advancing a settler-colonial state, and therefore intention is unimportant.

Bibliography Marder, L. (2023, June). “ Unit 7: The Politics of Reconciliation” POLS*3340: Indigenous Politics in Canada. The University of Guelph. TVO Today. (2021, 01/20). “ Truth and Reconciliation Progress?” [Video.] Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnHihAvkFjU&ab_channel=TheAgenda%7CTVOToday

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