TRC’s calls to action are one of the many ways the indigenous peoples are demanding the federal government’s accountability. With emphasis and support from other indigenous community representatives, organizations, and advocacy bodies, there is progress to some extent, but there is still much to be done. However, one of the significant achievements of TRC is bringing attention to the legacy of residential schools and advancing reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.
There is so much to be done in Canada to ensure the TRC’s calls to action are fulfilled because in healthcare, for instance, there are health inequities, with the communities being disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses and diseases. Again, the communities are experiencing higher maternal and infant mortality rates when compared to the non-indigenous peoples. Bacciaglia et al. (2023) report that indigenous women tend to be at a higher risk for pregnancy and birth complications internationally, with health inequities being one of the contributing factors. When Bacciaglia et al. (2023) compare the inequities in maternal healthcare services availability and provision between indigenous populations and non-indigenous peoples, the difference is evident, implying that Canada may be far from fulfilling TRC’s calls to action.
While the federal government is extending the research field to include indigenous professionals to research their own communities, there are inconsistencies in involving them in healthcare aspects like procedures. Popyk’s (2021) article in CBC News cites research that indigenous peoples have a 30% risk of complications like death after surgery, hence deterring them from seeking surgical services. Additionally, McVicar et al. (2021) report that indigenous peoples encounter challenges in access to surgical procedures, which is the first deterrent. Therefore, the efforts to include professionals from indigenous communities are remarkable, but the difference with regard to the impact of the change as expected by TRC is not remarkable.
TRC emphasizes that all sectors consider that the current challenges the indigenous communities are experiencing are a result of the historical trauma through colonization activities. In that light, the commission expects that the safety of the community members be observed by all means to prevent killings. The latter statement implies the commission’s intent to protect the children and young people. However, progress cannot be considered when the daily life in the communities is characterized by missing and kidnapped women. If the calls related to safety and protection are to be described as fulfilled, then the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women would have been addressed to see the girl’s home, and the phenomenon disappears. In 2024, we still haven’t heard sufficient documentation and attention about the missing girls, except for the community members and advocacy groups calling for action against MMIWG.
Nevertheless, there is progress in apology and acknowledgment because the Canadian government, as well as several churches involved in operating residential schools, have issued formal apologies for their role in the residential school system and the harm inflicted on Indigenous peoples and expressed a commitment to reconciliation. At the same time, Canada has made efforts to educate Canadians about the history and legacy of residential schools, which includes integrating Indigenous history, culture, and perspectives into school curricula, as well as awareness campaigns and initiatives aimed at promoting understanding and reconciliation. For example, in our courses, we begin by acknowledging the land and the role of the First Nations, which is great progress. Still, true reconciliation requires meaningful action beyond symbolic gestures and statements.
References
Bacciaglia, M., Neufeld, H. T., Neiterman, E., Krishnan, A., Johnston, S., & Wright, K. (2023). Indigenous maternal health and health services within Canada: a scoping review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), 327. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05645-y
McVicar, J. A., Poon, A., Caron, N. R., Bould, M. D., Nickerson, J. W., Ahmad, N., Kimmaliardjuk, D. M., Sheffield, C., Champion, C., & McIsaac, D. I. (2021). Postoperative outcomes for Indigenous Peoples in Canada: a systematic review. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 193(20), E713–E722. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.191682
Popyk, T. (2021). Indigenous Canadians face higher rates of death, complications after surgery, study shows. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/indigenous-death-rate-surgery-study-1.6029141
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