The rebuilding of a stronger, more equitable foundation is taking place in Canada

As part of the government and a member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, I have been asked to reflect on how Canada is faring on reconciliation. My single path into the House of Commons allows me to bring a unique perspective on the topic. I need to start this conversation by disclosing that I am a non-Indigenous woman. I recognize my privilege as a settler descendent and as a white person. How are we doing in addressing the harms and bridging gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people? Can we be satisfied with the direction we are heading as a nation? These are questions not easily answered and, of course, everything is relative; however, against a backdrop of repeated failures, we can carve out key areas where we are making positive gains. I say this while honouring how hard First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples have fought for every inch of progress. We cannot trivialize the magnitude and complexity of intergenerational issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit+ people, the trauma of residential and day “schools,” the failures of the child welfare system, or the effects of the Indian Act. It will take time to lift the curtain on 400 years of colonization to unpack who we are. It is a daunting task for a federation, one that still has deep ties to the British monarchy. It is painful, messy work, and, due to the provincial and territorial relationships in Canada, it can often be uneven. Where I write, here in unceded Wolastoq, Mi'kmaq, and Passamaquoddy territory, from my experience working in provincial schools under federal First Nation education initiatives, I have known a patriarchal system that did not work, and I have known the beauty of success when programs are Indigenous-led and adequately resourced with the federal government as a willing and supportive partner. While often used as a thorn, the work on long-term boil advisories in communities demonstrates the commitment long required by government. After centuries of indifference and repression, we reached 81 per cent of targets through community-operated infrastructure projects. We are working together to tackle the systemic issues that have been holding us back. We are making headway on the 76 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) calls to action that the federal government is directly, or jointly, accountable for elements like enshrining and protecting Indigenous languages, upholding Jordan’s Principle to address jurisdictional shortfalls in care, confronting injustice in the legal system with judges training, formal apologies by church and state for wrongdoing with compensation and reparations, as well as a legislated rejection of the doctrine of discovery that started it all. The bulk of the TRC calls to action will take each of us doing our part to drive the societal shift required to confront genocide. While I often feel fatigue in stating that there is more work to be done, it also excites me. In Fredericton, N.B., we have benefitted from record investments in language and culture initiatives. We have seen our friendship centre funded for expansion with programming for intimate-partner violence, affordable housing and mental health access. Art and education outreach abound. Entrepreneurship and major economic opportunities, alongside Canadian businesses and the corporate sector, brings renewed prosperity. Most importantly, where I’m from, Indigenous kids are proud of who they are and the Wolastoqey latuwewakon (language) did not die out, as was once predicted. It is critical to highlight that it was not the government that drove these developments, it was the people. Traditional home births have returned, longhouses are being built, and an immersion school started this fall, thanks to the hard work of Indigenous women and grandmothers reasserting their power. With the awakening of many Canadians that has taken place in realization of our true history, arguably, it is disingenuous to use the term reconciliation as it implies a return to better times, where in our case, the better times are ahead of us. A rebuilding of a stronger, more equitable foundation is taking place in Canada based on the recognition of rights, respect and partnership. Nit Leyic (May that be the truth). Jenica Atwin is a Liberal MP representing the riding of Fredericton, N.B. She currently sits as a member of the House Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. The Hill Times

The rebuilding of a stronger, more equitable foundation is taking place in Canada

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The rebuilding of a stronger, more equitable foundation is taking place in Canada

Arguably, it is disingenuous to use the term reconciliation, as it implies a return to better times. In our case, the better times are ahead of us.

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