With the various Reconciliation events happening in BC this month, to say that we are in a period of time full of promising hope would be an understatement. Having heard a few of the many heart wrenching, raw, yet also inspirational stories at the TRC event held at the Pacific National Exhibition, I feel that it is important to look at the government’s effort in “reconciliation”, since they did play a major role in the residential schools. 

In 2008, an official apology was issued by Prime Minister Harper, on behalf of the Canadian government, to the First Nations peoples for the Canadian residential schooling system. An excerpt from the statement expresses that: 

“The burden of this experience has been on your shoulders for far too long.  The burden is properly ours as a Government, and as a country.  There is no place in Canada for the attitudes that inspired the Indian Residential Schools system to ever prevail again. You have been working on recovering from this experience for a long time and in a very real sense, we are now joining you on this journey. The Government of Canada sincerely apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the Aboriginal peoples of this country for failing them so profoundly.”

This unprecedented apology issued by PM Harper was cleverly crafted, but how well has the government fulfilled their role in reconciliation? Not very well, if you ask me. As a culture who is dependant on the stability and health of the land and water, the environment is undoubtedly vital to the First Nations. Their tradition, culture and spirits are shaped by the environment in which they inhabit. Yet, the Harper government is creating more burdens for the First Nations people, not to mention the rest of Canada, by their reckless disregard for the environment. Bruce Cox, executive director of Greenpeace Canada, argues that the gutting of environmental laws and regulations, threatens our climate, land, and waters.  Essentially,  it makes it easier for oil and gas companies to expand their already devastating fossil fuel projects with fewer governmental restrictions. Clearly, the Harper government holds the interests of fossil fuel companies above the interests of the Indigenous peoples, and the rest of Canada.

However, people from around the nation have been rising up in resistance to the inconsiderate actions of the government. Last year, the Yinka Dene Alliance embarked upon a nation-wide journey, dubbed the “Freedom Train”, in order to defend their territory against the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline and tanker route. We also saw the birth of Idle No More last fall, sparked by the introduction of the second omnibus bill, Bill C-45.  Serving a corporate agenda, Bill C-45 limits federal protection to only 159 Canadian lakes and rivers, compared to the 2.5 million waterways previously protected.  Not only will water be subjected to privatization, it allows for oil and gas companies to go through unprotected waterways without a federal environmental assessment.

Outrageously, it took Attawapiskat Chief Teresa Spence over a month of hunger striking in order to finally secure a meeting with Harper to talk about the woes of her people. When the ‘Nishiyuu Walkers‘ completed their 1,600 km journey to Ottawa in support of Idle No More, Harper was busy in Toronto greeting pandas, sparking criticism over his display of priorities.

So where does Harper and his government’s priorities lie? I think that if the government was truly interested in reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples, they would not be trashing the environment, supporting corporate agendas, and ultimately threatening their livelihoods.  The Indigenous peoples of Canada have been at the forefront of social and environmental inequity throughout history, and still are one of the most marginalized groups in our society today.

One thing I took away from the TRC event is that reconciliation requires the participation of all members from a community, regardless of if they were directly or indirectly affected by residential schools. In order to reconcile with the past, I believe that everyone must be respectful of one another’s culture and beliefs. With the leadership of the TRC, I think that we are headed in the right direction towards  healing, and creating a better future. What we need now, more than ever, is for the government to make a commitment in sustainable alternatives, and truly listen to the struggles of its people. Only then will the quality of life improve for the current generation, and for the generations to come.