PETERBOUROUGH, ON – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission wraps up its mandate this week in Ottawa. Yesterday, on June 2nd, the TRC formally presented its summary report, which included 94 recommendations.
“This long awaited report and the TRC’s recommendations have some very significant recommendations that shed a light of hope for a path forward,” stated Chief Isadore Day, of Serpent River First Nation – who is also a candidate for the Ontario Regional Chief position; “We must be very focused on this process and not lose momentum, or the attention of Canadians.”
Day has come to the conclusion a Post-TRC Strategy could be effective with three important areas of focus – Juridical – Social – Political.
Day comments, “Coordination, and being focused on specific aspects of a multi-year strategy, can simplify an approach that looks at the formal and legal elements of the TRC findings”.
Day also sees the enormous effect that Indian Residential Schools has had, and is still having, on First Nations across Ontario.
“I will fight tooth and nail to make government account for a meaningful and ongoing healing process,” Day asserts.
He is also adamant that the political relationships between Canada, Ontario and First Nations will be critical to the success of the TRC recommendations.
Pointing to other major studies and commissioned reports like the 1996 RCAP (Royal Commission on Aboriginal People) report; Day says “These must be re-examined through the lens of the TRC recommendations. Survivors, families, and Youth must be engaged in a Post-TRC strategy to the highest degree possible”.
“We must also be mindful that it is our Youth that will inherit this legacy that they did not ask for. Our Young People don’t deserve to be burdened with the effects of colonial policy without having a chance to eradicate the impacts on their own lives and their future. This is why I am calling for a First Nation Youth Caucus in Ontario on the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations”.
Day will ask his fellow leaders to support a resolution in the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council this week on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its 94 Recommendations.
