Every year on September 30, Canada commemorates the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. At MINI TIPI, we want to use this day to honour residential school survivors and their families, encourage people to listen to Indigenous stories and voices in order to better understand the lasting consequences of the assimilation policies that have shaped their history, and, above all, remind everyone that reconciliation cannot be reduced to a single day of commemoration.
This day is first and foremost an opportunity to remember, learn, and acknowledge the realities experienced by Indigenous peoples. It also allows us to highlight their cultures, languages, traditions, knowledge, artists, and communities.
But how can we celebrate the richness of these cultures while acknowledging the wounds that remain?
How do we find a balance between cultural pride and the realities that still exist today? How can we celebrate a people who deserve to be fully recognized when their communities must still advocate for their rights, speak out against injustices, and remind others of their history?
These questions are part of the reflection that reconciliation invites us to undertake.
From Truth to Reconciliation: Where Are We Now?
Yes, significant progress has been made over the past several decades, and it is essential to recognize it.
Just a few decades ago, assimilation policies were still deeply embedded in Canadian institutions. Residential schools operated by the federal government continued to operate until 1996. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada subsequently provided thousands of survivors, families, and communities with an opportunity to share their experiences and bring attention to the intergenerational impacts of this system.
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presented its 94 Calls to Action, intended to guide governments, institutions, and Canadian society through the reconciliation process.
These calls address a wide range of areas, including child welfare, education, healthcare, justice, languages, culture, commemoration, and relationships between Indigenous peoples and Canadian governments.
They therefore serve not only as a record of the past, but also as a framework for concrete changes aimed at transforming the relationships between Indigenous peoples and Canadian institutions today.
Nearly a decade after their publication, however, the implementation of these calls remains uneven. The Yellowhead Institute has been tracking the progress of the 94 Calls to Action and has highlighted the gap between commitments made and the structural changes implemented for several years.
The protection and revitalization of Indigenous languages is also an important issue. In 2019, the federal government adopted the Indigenous Languages Act, in part in response to Call to Action 14 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Canada. However, many are considered at risk, and some are facing extinction. Data from Statistics Canada also shows a decline in the number of people who reported being able to hold a conversation in an Indigenous language between 2016 and 2021.
The situation is not the same across the board, however: some languages are also showing signs of revitalization, particularly through second-language learning and community-led efforts.
Finally, in 2021, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was officially established in Canada. It directly responds to Call to Action 80 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which called for the creation of a national day of commemoration.
The day aims, among other things, to honour residential school survivors and victims, acknowledge the lasting impacts of the system, and raise awareness of this history.
The Gaps: What Still Needs to Be Done?
Recognizing the progress that has been made does not mean that the process of reconciliation is complete.
The inequalities affecting Indigenous peoples remain very present and take many different forms. Some communities continue to face challenges related to access to education, clean drinking water, healthcare, housing, and infrastructure.
Indigenous peoples also remain overrepresented in Canada’s correctional system. This overrepresentation is particularly pronounced among incarcerated Indigenous adults, highlighting inequalities that extend far beyond the historical legacy of residential schools.
Reconciliation therefore means looking beyond symbolism. A day of commemoration, orange shirts, and public statements can help raise awareness, but they do not replace the changes needed within institutions, policies, and relationships with Indigenous communities.
Taking Action: What We Can Do
It is important to acknowledge what is not working. But it is equally important to reflect on what we can do, both individually and collectively.
Reconciliation does not rest solely on governments and institutions. It is also built through the way we listen, learn, consume, speak, and pass knowledge on.
Starting with the Land We Live On
A first step can be learning more about the Indigenous peoples and Nations whose traditional territories we live on.
The Native Land Digital website allows users to explore the territories, languages, and Nations associated with different regions across Canada and around the world. It is a helpful starting point for better understanding the land around us and discovering the languages spoken there.
Supporting Indigenous Artists and Businesses
Another concrete way to participate in reconciliation is by supporting Indigenous artists, artisans, authors, and businesses.
Buying directly from Indigenous creators, discovering their work, and supporting their businesses helps recognize their contributions to Canadian culture and the economy while making space for contemporary Indigenous voices.
However, it is important to prioritize Indigenous creators and businesses themselves and to avoid appropriating or commercializing cultural symbols without context or consent.
Listening to Indigenous Voices
Indigenous culture is not limited to the past.
We can discover the works of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis authors, listen to their music and podcasts, visit exhibitions, attend events and festivals, or simply take the time to listen to Indigenous people who share their experiences and perspectives.
The goal is not to speak for them, but to make more space for them to speak.
Continuing the Conversation
Finally, we can contribute to reconciliation by breaking the silence around these realities.
This can start with challenging a stereotype, sharing a reliable resource, correcting misinformation, or simply engaging in a conversation with openness and respect.
Reconciliation does not require having all the answers. It requires being willing to keep learning.
Celebrating with Intention
After reflecting on history and its importance, we ultimately return to where we started: the importance of celebrating, but above all, doing so with awareness and intention.
Taking an honest look at the history we share allows us to move beyond superficial celebrations. It invites us to recognize both the richness, diversity, and vitality of Indigenous cultures, as well as the wounds and injustices that continue to require attention, accountability, and justice.
Reconciliation does not mean erasing the past in order to build a future. Rather, it means being willing to look at that past honestly so that we can build different relationships in the present and for generations to come.
Fully integrating Indigenous cultures, knowledge, and perspectives into Canadian society is not simply a way of acknowledging the past. It is also about recognizing their presence, contributions, and essential role in Canada today.
To move forward, it is essential to listen to Indigenous voices, protect and revitalize Indigenous languages, support communities, and continue learning. Indigenous peoples should not be reduced to a chapter of the past: they are vibrant, living communities, carrying forward languages, knowledge, traditions, art, and visions for the future.
Ultimately, reconciliation should not be limited to a few days of the year.
It is built every day, through what we choose to learn, acknowledge, support, and pass on.
