FAQ: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action

Why has B.C. adopted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action?

B.C. will work in partnership with Indigenous communities to create a joint vision of reconciliation.

The TRC’s final report provides an important historical record of the experiences of residential school survivors and the inter-generational and ongoing impacts on their families.

The 94 Calls to Action provide a road map to acknowledge and address the legacy of residential school trauma and develop a vision of reconciliation for people living in British Columbia  based on mutual respect.

Recommendations are directed at:

• Federal, provincial, municipal and Indigenous governments
• Indigenous and non-Indigenous people
• Post-secondary institutions
• Health care institutions
• Faith-based institutions
• Media organizations, and
• Members of the corporate sector.

What has the B.C. government done so far to implement the TRC’s Calls to Action?

All provincial ministers have been tasked with finding ways to implement the Calls to Action in B.C.

Reconciliation touches upon all social, economic and cultural aspects of individuals and communities’ well-being and includes Indigenous governance and jurisdiction.

The work to implement the Calls to Action is a cross-government accountability.

The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation has been tasked with engaging with counterparts in all ministries to ensure staff understand the priority of this work.

Where the Calls to Action are federally focused, B.C. will work with the federal government to move the calls to action forward.

In 2018, the Government of British Columbia introduced the Draft Principles that Guide the Province of British Columbia’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples to help guide the work of implementing the Calls to Action .

How are the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) and the TRC’s Calls to Action linked?

The UN Declaration is an international human rights instrument endorsed by 148 nations across the world.

The TRC Calls to Action are specific to Canada and are focused on reparations for the historical and ongoing damage caused by the residential school system.

Both focus on improving the rights and well-being of Indigenous Peoples, covering areas such as child welfare, education, language and culture, health, social and economic outcomes and justice.

The TRC embraced the UN Declaration as “the framework” to address the human rights violations that have been inflicted on Indigenous Peoples throughout Canada’s history. The 94 Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report include the call for all levels of government to undertake measures to implement the UN Declaration.

B.C. is the first jurisdiction in Canada to have passed legislation to formally adopt the internationally recognized standards of the UN Declaration. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act  (Declaration Act) passed unanimously in the B.C. legislature on November 26, 2019, and came into force on November 29, 2019.

The Declaration Act mandates government to bring provincial laws into alignment with the UN Declaration and to develop and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the UN Declaration in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples.

Learn more about the Declaration Act.

Where can I find out more information about B.C.’s work toward reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples?

The first of its kind, the Declaration Act Action Plan outlines work each ministry in government will do to implement the UN Declaration between 2022 and 2027. It includes 89 tangible, achievable actions in the areas of self-determination and self-government, rights and title, ending anti-Indigenous racism, and enhancing social, cultural and economic well-being.

The Declaration Act Action Plan was developed through two years of intensive engagement to ensure it aligned with the priorities of Indigenous Peoples in B.C. It includes goals, outcomes, and tangible actions needed for meaningful progress in reconciliation. Every ministry in government is working in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples to deliver on their specific actions in tangible and measurable ways.

The Province reports annually  on the progress of work to align laws with the UN Declaration and the implementation of the Declaration Act Action Plan.

Further information on government’s work with Indigenous Peoples can be found in other parts of the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation website.