Commemoration
Learn how the Government of Canada is responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action 79 to 83.
Based on data provided December 2022.
- Call to Action 79 is based on data provided April 2024.
- Call to Action 81 is based on data provided September 2023.
79. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal organizations, and the arts community, to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. This would include, but not be limited to:
- Amending the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and its Secretariat.
- Revising the policies, criteria, and practices of the National Program of Historical Commemoration to integrate Indigenous history, heritage values, and memory practices into Canada's national heritage and history.
- Developing and implementing a national heritage plan and strategy for commemorating residential school sites, the history and legacy of residential schools, and the contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canada's history.
Background
Perspectives and interpretations of Canada's history have changed a lot over the last century and through Call to Action 79, the Government of Canada will continue to work to acknowledge the legacies of its past.
To begin efforts in addressing Call to Action 79, Budget 2018 allocated $23.9 million to Parks Canada ($15.2 million of new funding in addition to $8.7 million of existing resources) over 6 years from 2018 to 2024 to advance initiatives that include:
- policy and legislative updates
- increased visibility and support for Indigenous histories in Canada
- commemorations related to the history and legacy of residential schools
In the fall of 2022, Parks Canada received authorities to access a $25 million allocation from Budget 2022, for the purposes of continuing the work that began in 2018 to commemorate the legacy and history of residential schools in Canada.
Until March 2025, the additional funding will provide continued support for the development and installation of commemorative markers associated with residential school sites and Survivor communities under the National Program of Historical Commemoration, and gatherings related to their installation or unveiling. It will also provide continued support for the co-development of new residential school nominations and accelerate the review of existing designations related to residential schools.
The funding will provide support for outreach and engagement to support residential school commemoration and its integration into Parks Canada's public history programs and initiatives; and for the continuation of the Stories of Canada initiative, which is designed to transform the historical narrative at Parks Canada heritage places by giving voice to Indigenous peoples and ensuring that the history and legacy of residential schools is fully represented and acknowledged.
Call to Action 79(i)
On June 7, 2022, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, introduced Bill C-23, the Historic Places of Canada Act, in the House of Commons.
The Bill, if passed by Parliament as written, would create 3 new positions for First Nation, Métis and Inuit representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. The Bill would also improve the integration of Indigenous history, heritage values, and memory practices into national heritage and history in Canada, thereby creating greater opportunities to protect and present the contributions of Indigenous peoples to cultural and natural heritage.
In support of Call to Action 79(i), Budget 2021 announced the government's intent to implement legislation that would provide for a transparent designation framework and the sustainable protection of over 300 federally owned historic places. The Budget proposed to provide $28.7 million over 5 years, and $5.8 million ongoing, to Parks Canada to implement the legislation, if enacted.
While the legislative proposal was being developed, non-legislative barriers to Indigenous participation as board members of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada were identified and addressed.
Actions taken include:
- outreach to encourage Indigenous candidates to apply for vacancies on the Board
- revisions to the required qualifications
- generating better awareness of vacancies amongst potential Indigenous applicants
As a result, 2 current appointees to the Board, representing Yukon and the Northwest Territories, identify as Indigenous persons.
Call to Action 79(ii)
In response to Call to Action 79 (ii), the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Government of Canada's priority to advance reconciliation, Parks Canada is conducting an in-depth review of its cultural heritage policies.
To achieve this, in 2018, Parks Canada welcomed Indigenous cultural heritage practitioners, experts, Elders and academics to engage in discussions about the commemoration and protection of cultural heritage. In December 2019, as recommended during these gatherings, Parks Canada established the Indigenous Cultural Heritage Advisory Council. Parks Canada maintains ongoing dialogue with members of the Council to seek input and guidance on specific cultural heritage policy review components. The Council has been providing Parks Canada with valuable advice for implementing Call to Action 79 and advancing reconciliation.
In 2019, the Minister for Parks Canada approved the Framework for History and Commemoration: National Historic Sites System Plan 2019. This plan provides policy direction for the review of existing designations of national historic significance to:
- address absences of Indigenous histories
- take into account Indigenous perspectives and established Indigenous histories as a priority for the national program of historical commemoration
In 2020, Parks Canada collaborated with the Indigenous Heritage Circle to co-host three regional engagement sessions with Elders, Indigenous heritage professionals and Indigenous partners to review the cultural heritage policies at Parks Canada. The Indigenous Heritage Circle's report, 2020 Indigenous Heritage Engagement Sessions: Report from the Indigenous Heritage Circle to Parks Canada, provides recommendations for renewing cultural heritage policies and relationships with Indigenous peoples.
In 2021 and 2022, Parks Canada engaged 40 Indigenous and modern treaty organizations who have a vested interest in cultural heritage to seek their input on:
- topics relevant to a potential historic places legislation
- the renewal of Parks Canada's Cultural Resource Management Policy
In December 2022, Parks Canada shared a "What We Heard" report which summarizes input received during the 2021-22 engagement with Indigenous partners. This report serves as the basis for the renewal of key Parks Canada cultural heritage policy instruments that are currently under review.
In January 2023, after undertaking a multidisciplinary analysis of recommendations received during the 2021 to 2022 engagement, and through further engagement with members of Parks Canada's Indigenous Cultural Heritage Advisory Council, Parks Canada completed a first draft of a renewed Cultural Resource Management policy.
In February 2023, Parks Canada reconnected with Indigenous partners to seek their input and feedback on this first draft. Engagement continued until the end of 2023. In February 2023, members of Parks Canada's Indigenous Cultural Heritage Advisory Council also participated in two days of meetings in Calgary to discuss topics such as the repatriation of cultural heritage, and geographical place names. These discussions helped inform Parks Canada's efforts in working with the Geographical Names Board of Canada and Provincial and Territorial representatives to amend place names that are considered derogatory in Parks Canada-administered areas.
Following engagement on the first draft of the Cultural Resource Management Policy, a second draft was prepared based on the comments received. Parks Canada is currently consulting with Indigenous partners to gather feedback on this second draft. When this final phase of engagement is completed, the policy will be updated to reflect the comments received and will be submitted for final approval.
Call to Action 79(iii)
In response to Call to Action 79(iii), on September 1, 2020, the Government of Canada recognized the national significance of the residential school system as a tragic and defining event in Canadian history.
The former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School (Manitoba) and the former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School (Nova Scotia) were designated as national historic sites in September 2020. In July 2021, the former Shingwauk Indian Residential School (Ontario) and the former Muskowekwan Indian Residential School (Saskatchewan) were also designated as national historic sites. Commemorative videos are being produced for each of these sites, in partnership with the communities in which these former residential schools are located. The video on the former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School has been completed and released to the public. The other 3 videos are being finalized in consultation with the respective communities. In addition to French and English versions of the video, additional Indigenous language versions are being produced, and discussions are being held with our partners to plan the launch of these three videos for Fall 2024.
In December 2023, two reports, prepared with the support of Indigenous partners, were presented to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board related to the history of residential schooling as possible national historic designations.
Since 2020, Parks Canada has provided multi-year funding to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation for the purpose of engaging with residential school communities to:
- determine commemorative approaches to former residential school sites
- support community-level commemorations and healing gatherings in association with the national historic event designation of the residential school system
- This funding is being extended through to 2025.
Budget 2022 allowed Parks Canada collaborates with Indigenous partners seeking to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools, including via the Stories of Canada initiative, through which Parks Canada collaborates with Indigenous partners to transform the narrative at Parks Canada heritage places.
These projects showcase the importance of these heritage places from Indigenous perspectives and invest in opportunities for Indigenous communities to share and communicate their histories own voices and ways.
Recent progress
Call to Action 79(ii)
- In 2021 and early 2022, Parks Canada engaged 40 Indigenous and modern treaty organizations who have a vested interest in cultural heritage
- In December 2022, Parks Canada shared the "What We Heard" report which summarizes input received during the 2021 to 2022 engagement with Indigenous partners
- In January 2023, after undertaking a multidisciplinary analysis of recommendations received during the 2021 to 2022 engagement, and through further engagement with members of Parks Canada's Indigenous Cultural Heritage Advisory Council, Parks Canada completed a first draft of the renewed Cultural Resource Management Policy
- In February 2023 Parks Canada is connecting with Indigenous partners to seek their input and feedback on the first draft of the renewed Cultural Resource Management Policy. Engagement continued through fall 2023
- Also in February 2023, members of Parks Canada's Indigenous Cultural Heritage Advisory Council met to discuss topics such as geographical place names and repatriation of cultural heritage artefacts
- During the summer of 2023, the first draft of the renewed Cultural Resource Management Policy was revised. These updates were based in part on lessons learned from conversations with Parks Canada's Indigenous Cultural Heritage Advisory Council
- As a result of this work, in January 2024, a second draft was prepared and shared with Indigenous partners
- In the meantime, Parks Canada began drafting the Cultural Resource Management Directive
- The next steps in the renewal of the Cultural Resource Management Policy are the final approvals, which will take place in the summer of 2024 once engagement is complete
Call to Action 79(iii)
- Since 2018, the Stories of Canada initiative has collaborated with more than 100 Indigenous communities on nearly 70 multi component projects at more than 45 heritage places, including national historic sites, national parks, national urban parks, and national marine conservation areas. For 2024 to 2025, the Stories of Canada initiative will provide more than $1 million to support 27 additional projects that will be co-developed with Indigenous partners to center Indigenous voices that reclaim, share and honour Indigenous cultures, histories and languages
- A new episode of ReCollections, Parks Canada's history and archaeology podcast, will profile a collaborative archaeology project between Parks Canada and a partner First Nation
- In March 2023, Parks Canada hosted 2 workshops to bring together residential school survivors, Indigenous organizations and academics to build relationships and begin efforts to collaboratively identify additional subjects related to residential schools that merit national historic designation. In July 2023, thanks to these workshops, Parks Canada began working with several communities in the province of Quebec and British Columbia to commemorate the history and legacy of the residential school system
- In 2023 to 2024, Parks Canada engaged with four Indigenous communities, organizations, and groups of survivors associated with specific school sites to build relationships and discuss collaboration in commemorating of the history of residential schools
- In 2023 to 2024, Parks Canada hosted five engagement sessions with Indigenous scholars and scholars working in Indigenous history to begin efforts to collaborate on the history of residential schools and its legacies
- In December 2023, two reports, prepared with the support of Indigenous partners, were presented to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board related to the history of residential schooling as possible national historic designations
- The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada continues reviewing designations related to the history and legacy of residential schools, and sixteen of these reviewed designations have been approved by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Since 2020, $2.2 million in partnership funding has been transferred to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to support the development of commemorative projects related to the history and legacy of residential schools
- In early 2024, Parks Canada signed funding agreements with the Legacy of Hope Foundation, the National Association and Friendship Centres, and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society totalling $1.4 million for fiscal years 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 to support Indigenous led commemoration related to the history and legacy of residential schools
- In late 2023 and early 2024, the review of existing designations was presented to the Indigenous Cultural Heritage Advisory Council, Parks Canada's Indigenous Stewardship Circle, the Métis National Council and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Next steps
Parks Canada will support the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Parks Canada while Bill C-23, Historic Places of Canada Act, goes through the Parliamentary process.
Parks Canada will continue to engage Indigenous partners to seek their input on the renewed Cultural Resource Management Policy and other cultural heritage policy instruments. In the summer of 2024, the final version of the Cultural Resource Management Policy is expected to move to the official approval stage. The Directive for the Management of Geographical Names in Parks Canada Administered Places is expected to be approved in fiscal year 2024 to 2025. In addition, in 2024, work on other related policy tools, such as the Cultural Resource Management Directive, will be initiated or continued.
New nominations about the Indigenous histories and legacies of residential schools in Canada continue to be received by the Secretariat of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Eligible nominations will be considered for potential national historic designations, with an average processing time of 2 years. Parks Canada continues to engage directly with Indigenous organizations and communities through meetings and gatherings to discuss approaches to respectful commemoration, and to identify new nominations related to commemorating the legacy of residential schools.
Some designations and their commemorative plaques include colonial, dated or insensitive content that does not accurately reflect what is known about the country's history today. A number of existing designations related to residential schools and Indigenous history have since been revised and others are currently being reviewed. To find out more, please visit: Reviews of existing designations.
In addition, the criteria and guidelines for evaluating subjects of potential national historic significance, which sets out processes and practices of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, underwent both internal and external reviews with the help of Indigenous consultants. Further progress was made in 2022 to align the proposed reviews with the engagement undertaken for the historic places legislation and the renewal of Parks Canada's Cultural Resource Management Policy. Draft revisions have been reviewed by the Indigenous Heritage Circle. The implementation of the changes is on hold pending the status of Bill C-23 (An Act respecting places, persons and events of national historic significance or national interest, archaeological resources, and cultural and natural heritage).
Funding agreements are being developed with other national and regional Indigenous organizations with mandates to implement programs related to the commemoration of the history and legacy of the residential school system.
80. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
What's happening?
Bill C-5, the legislation to establish the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, received Royal Assent on June 3, 2021. The first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as an official federal statutory holiday, was marked on September 30, 2021.
81. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors and their organizations, and other parties to the Settlement Agreement, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools National Monument in the city of Ottawa to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.
What's happening?
Background
Canadian Heritage is the federal government lead for this Call to Action given its responsibility as lead department for national monuments in Canada's Capital Region. The project is currently at the early progress stage.
Recent budget investments
In August 2021, the government announced $20 million in new funding to build a national monument in Ottawa to honour survivors and all the children who were taken from their families and communities.
Recent progress
On June 20, 2023, the Survivor-led Steering Committee announced that the Residential Schools National Monument will be installed on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa. The site selected is on the ancestral lands of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation and was blessed by Elders during a special ceremony held on the evening prior to the announcement. The site is on the west side of Parliament Hill and is highly visible in the heart of downtown Ottawa.
Next steps
Next steps include beginning the process to select the Monument design. This will require the following steps:
- determining the appropriate procurement approach and mechanism
- establishing an Indigenous-led selection panel
- establishing a design brief that reflects the Monument vision, objectives and site conditions
- preparing the supporting technical documents for the selection process
82. We call upon provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with Survivors and their organizations, and other parties to the Settlement Agreement, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools Monument in each capital city to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.
What's happening?
The provincial and territorial governments are responsible for the response to Call to Action 82.
83. We call upon the Canada Council for the Arts to establish, as a funding priority, a strategy for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to undertake collaborative projects and produce works that contribute to the reconciliation process
What's happening?
The Canada Council for the Arts launched the {Re}conciliation Initiative in 2015, in association with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. The initiative invited First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists, collectives and arts organizations to submit applications for projects that share how the arts can contribute to the ongoing process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.
The program ran for 2 years until the end of fiscal year 2016 to 2017 and delivered $1.8 million in support towards 26 projects.
In 2016, the Canada Council for the Arts launched its 2016 to 2021 Strategic Plan with a commitment to support the relationship between Indigenous artists and people living in Canada. The plan articulates its approach to Indigenous self-determination and decolonization.
In April 2017, the Canada Council launched the program Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, for which projects previously funded through the {Re}conciliation Initiative are eligible. This ongoing grant program supports Indigenous individuals, groups, Indigenous-led arts organizations and arts and cultural sector development organizations that foster a vital and resilient Indigenous arts ecosystem.
Designed and administered by Indigenous staff, the program acknowledges the cultural sovereignty of Indigenous peoples and respects the concepts of First Nations, Inuit and Métis self-determination.
In 2021, the Canada Council for the Arts provided funding to 451 Indigenous artists, arts groups and organizations, totaling $31.3 million. Of this funding, from January 1 to December 31, 2021, 298 Indigenous artists, arts groups and organizations received funding directly through Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, totaling $20.9 million.
In fall 2016, the Canada Council committed to tripling its investment to support the knowledge, creation and sharing of First Nations, Inuit and Métis arts and cultures to $18.9 million by fiscal year 2020 to 2021.
The Canada Council supports work to renew the relationship between Indigenous artists and both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences. This work is furthering truth and reconciliation, decolonization, and helps foster a shared future free of discrimination.
In 2020 to 2021, the Canada Council provided $28 million in funding to over 540 Indigenous artists, groups and arts organizations from coast to coast to coast. The Canada Council surpassed its goal to triple support for Indigenous creation by fiscal year 2020 to 2021.