Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOR-19-021 - Municipal Response to the Truth & ReconciliationREPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING:June 17, 2019 SUBMITTED BY: Janette MacDonald, community engagement consultant, 519-741-2200 ext. 7249 PREPAREDBY:Janette MacDonald, community engagement consultant, 519-741-2200 ext. 7249 WARD (S) INVOLVED:All DATE OF REPORT:May 30, 2019 REPORT NO.:COR-19-021 SUBJECT:Municipal response to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action ___________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: THAT staff be directed to proceed to implement the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action consistent with the approach outlined in report COR-19-021, beginning with the following two priorities: TH AT Council introduce a territorial acknowledgement at the commencement of Council to signal a commitment to responding to the Truth & ReconciliationCalls to Actionand to demonstrate respect for the ongoing relationships we are building; and THATCouncil approve the implementation of a training program for staff that will increase Indigenous competency at an organizational level, resulting in improved customer service and increased capacity of non-Indigenous staff across the organization to work respectfully and appropriately on Indigenous initiatives in a municipal context. BACKGROUND: The federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established through the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, 2007.The agreementaffectedapproximately 86,000 Indigenous People who had been enrolled in a residential school; however, over the operating period from 1883–1996, over 150,000 Indigenous youth were placed in the schools. The TRCdetermined that the government-sponsored religious school system committed cultural genocide throughforcedassimilation of Indigenous youth.In his formal apology, former Prime Minister Stephan Harper stated that “Two primary objectives of the Residential Schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture. These objectives were based on the assumption Aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Indeed, some *** Thisinformation is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 3 - 1 sought, as it was infamously said, ‘to kill the Indian in the child’.Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country.” Further atrocities included starvation, abuse and the proliferation of disease.The TRC documents3,200 deaths as officially recorded,butaccording to chair Justice Murray Sinclair, there are at least 6,000 deaths andmore uncounted after record-keeping was abandoned in 1920. As of 2015, there were almost 32,000 resolved claims of sexual assault with another 6,000 claims in progress. Tolearn more about the impact of the residential school system, see Appendix A. The TRC’s mandate included themes such as gathering and sharing the truth,restoring culture and establishing respectful relationships. Itsfinal report includes 94 calls to action to government, churches, the corporate sector, national art galleries and more. Four items call on municipal government to respond, and nine items call on all levels of government to respond (See Appendix B). While the TRC’s official mandate was toaddress the residential school system, in its final report it concluded that "reconciliation must support Aboriginal people as they heal from the destructive legacies of colonization that have wreaked such havoc in their lives". As a result, in the 2018 business plan, Kitchener City Council adopted item OG24 Municipal Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (Strategic Item) as follows: This project will result in a potential municipal response for Council consideration to the2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report, including its Calls to Action, and identify and make recommendations for other ways the City can support Indigenous peoples in Kitchener. Deliverables will include a staff report detailing the full scope of work and a report with recommendations on our approach to key issues defined through the initial project scope. REPORT: Part A: Scope of work While the work of the TRC outlinesa path toward reconciliation in the form of a potential framework for examining municipal-Indigenous relations in Kitchener,the Calls to Action delivered by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (see Appendix B) are not intended to be a ‘checklist’ approach; this dishonours the true nature of reconciliation. The Callsto Action should be viewed a starting point in a larger exercise of establishing trusting and respectful relations with Indigenous Peoples, as identified by both the TRC and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP). For more on RCAP, see Appendix C. Therefore, the scope of work for this business plan item is not delineated by functional areas, calls to actions or other easily identifiable or discrete tasks. Rather, it is defined by a corporate 3 - 2 commitment to respectfully recognize and work with Indigenous Peoples based on the RCAP and TRC principles, and to beginto prioritize and integrate Indigenous initiatives into our work. Reconciliation is not a set of things to do; it is about doing things differently. Part B: Recommendations Recommendations on how to move forward are influencedby both internal and external factors, as well as demographic impact. Through community consultation the following themes emerged: The City has a distinct responsibility to engage in a way that recognizes the status of Indigenous Peoples as nations within Canadaand that we are all Treaty People; This work isdistinct from other inclusion work with respect to the relationship of Indigenous Peoples to the land, given the City’s role as stewards ofthe land; Indigenous Peoples experience different degrees of enculturationas many were stripped of language and culture through policies of assimilation. This differentiates support for Indigenous community development from other inclusion (e.g., newcomers might require translation services, Indigenous languages are at risk of extinction); There are Indigenous organizations and representatives who desire a positive, collaborative working relationship with City staffand Council. Through internal consultation the following themes emerged: Some staff are already attempting to pursue Indigenous initiatives, but the majority are constrained by a lack of knowledge, skills and confidence to move forward. Expectations of the corporation to respond to emerging and continuing Indigenous issues are increasing. Immediate project opportunities exist in the context of corporate priorities (e.g., sustainability) and staff desire meaningful Indigenous engagement to advance this work. According to Census data: In 2016, there were approximately 8,900 people (1.7 %) who identified as Indigenous, and 15,200 (2.9 %) who indicated Indigenous ancestry. By ethnic origin, this is the 14th largest group inWaterloo Region. This is an increase of 98% over 2006 Census data, and represents an average growth of 750people per year. Nationally, the Indigenous population grew by 42.5 per cent in the same period, comprising 6.2 per cent of the population of Canada. According to Statistics Canada, this high growth rate was partially the result of natural growth, including both longer life expectancies, as well as high fertility rates. Another contributing factor was the increase of people who self-identified as Aboriginal on the 2016 Census. 3 - 3 According to the former Ministry of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, the Indigenous population is expected to continue to be the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population, with more than half living in urban areas. Recommendation 1: Adopt a territorial acknowledgement The work of reconciliation must take into account a pluralityof Indigenous Peoples, needs, priorities and cultural practices – not all Indigenous People are alike. However, givena profound common connection to the land, it serves to unify culturally-distinct groups. According to the Assembly of First Nations, “She is the basis of who we are as ‘real human beings’ that include our languages, our cultures, our knowledge and wisdom to know how to conduct ourselves in a good way.” To demonstrate recognitionfor the vital role of the land in reconciliation, it is recommended that Council proceedwith the introduction of a territorial acknowledgement at the Commencement of Council.While thereis a need to establish a corporate protocol and training for giving acknowledgements, the introduction of aterritorial acknowledgementoutside of this processsignalsa commitment to this work and respect for the relationships we are building. It is common practice to periodically review and update acknowledgements so this first acknowledgement represents a starting point in a corporate practice which should welcome continued feedback and review. It is also appropriate to develop context-specific acknowledgements to deliver on special occasions or events. Staff can work with Council to prepare meaningful acknowledgements, recognizing the importance of choosing words authentic to both the speaker and audience. Staff developed the following acknowledgement based on feedback gathered to date, and with input from Indigenous Peoples, to be introduced at the commencement of Council: I (we) would like to begin by acknowledging the land on which we gather today, recognizing that the city of Kitchener is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee Peoples. I (we) would also like to acknowledge the enduring knowledge, presence and deep-rooted traditions of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit who continue to enrich our community to this day. Taking time to understand the history of the landand the people connected to itis important in delivering meaningful acknowledgements. The proposed acknowledgement represents three distinct groups with historical connections to this area. The original caretakers of the land were called the Neutral by the French, to reflect their peaceful relations with proximate nations. The Huron referred to the Neutral as the Attawandaron, meaning people who speak a little different. It is not known how the Neutralreferred to themselves as they died due to famine, disease and war, with the last being absorbed by the Haudenosaunee. There is evidence that some Neutrals referred to themselves as the Chonnonton meaning “people who tend deer”. 3 - 4 The Anishinaabeg(meaning “human beings”)are culturally-related peoples who speak the Algonquin family of languages. This includes the Mississaugas (meaning “many river mouths”), one of the Objibwe nations who lived in parts of southern Ontario, and ceded territory to the British on present-day Kitchener. A portion of theceded territory of the Missisaugasknown as the Haldimand Tract was promised to the Haudenosaunee (meaning “they made the house”) Confederacy to thank them for their loyalty during the American Revolution. The Confederacy is one of the oldest participatory democracies in the world. It originally consisted of the Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk, and Seneca, and became known as the Six Nations when joined by theTuscarora. The closest reserve to Kitchener is the Six Nations of the Grand River, the largest reserve in North America. The Six Nations also welcomed the Mississaugas of Port Credit to their reserve by granting them 4,800 acres as compensation to the Mississaugas for their authorization for the purchase of the land that became the Haldimand Tract. The population of Waterloo Region today includes approximately 11,600 people of First Nations ancestry, but also another 3,500 who identify as Métisand 400 who identify as Inuit. The proposed acknowledgement aims to recognizeboth the history of the lands and its Peoples, as well asthe diversity ofIndigenous Peoples living in Kitchener today. Recommendation 2: Implement training for staff To establish respectful working relationships with Indigenous Peoples, training should be implemented in accordance with Call to Action 57. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants onthe history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. The benefits of training include improved customer service and increased capacity of non- Indigenous staff across the organization to develop respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Further consideration can be given to partnering with regional municipalities to deliver training given common needs and a desire to understand a history that precedes municipal boundaries. Within the City of Kitchener, there are Indigenous intersections in the domains of arts and culture, events, sport, leisure, open space, land development, heritage, environmental sustainability, economic development, and more. The corporation and community are grappling with everyday issues such as: permission to light a fire for a sunrise ceremony, access to safe space for ceremonies, appropriate consultation on Indigenous history, access to public space for healing symbols, access to funding and services for community development including placemaking, 3 - 5 environmental stewardship and ecology, and support for events such as Pow Wows.While it will take significant work and resources to develop a more comprehensive approach to addressing these issues on an ongoing basis, a staff education and training program is an excellent first step to equipping staff with the tools and knowledge they need to address these requests as they arise. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the city’s strategic vision through the delivery of core service. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: It is recommended that a consultant with expertise in the area of Indigenous competency training be retained to develop and implement a staff trainingprogram. Based on comparable work, staff estimate the cost to implement training for City of Kitchener staff at approximately $150,000 which could be funded out of the learning and development reserve fund. Before proceeding, staff will investigate the opportunity to develop and share the cost of a training program for staff with other local municipalities. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: A response to the Truth & Reconciliation Report (OG24) was approved as an addition to the Business Plan on December 11, 2017.Early on, it became clear that the conventional expectations and timelines on community consultation and engagement are difficult, if not impossible to apply to working and engaging with Indigenous communities. First, there are established, trusting relationships the City enjoys with community partners and residents that did not (and do not) yet existwith Indigenous communities.It is important for staff to first begin to develop relationships and build trust through meaningful conversations before traditional consultation could take place. Further, there is an existing formal consultation protocol with respect to development-related work with Six Nations and the Mississaugas. Thisis important to retain to respectthe governance structures of these nations, but there is a need to direct additional attention toward engaging Indigenous communities living in Kitchener to ensure that local interests are represented as well. Finally, there are distinct communities within Indigenous communities, and each of these requires the same time, attention and detail to build respectful relationships – and each of them proceed at their own pace, determinedby the Indigenous communityitself. It is important to note that the City of Kitchener is one of many organizations seeking the time and attention of these communities for the same purpose – there can be a natural cynicism from some groups about the motivation for our engagement, and whether or not we intend to take meaningful action as a result of our engagement. Given the lack of City of Kitchener staff knowledge and limited resources among Indigenous organizations, engagement had to build slowly and in some cases is still in the very early stages 3 - 6 of development. However, over the course of the past 18 months, staff was able to develop relationships and build trust with a number of communities, enabling consultationwith Indigenous representatives of local organizationsandpost-secondary schools; attend Pow Wows, public talks, and events; attendedplanning meetings for National Indigenous Peoples Dayandconsulted with staff from other municipalities, and staff within the City of Kitchener. CONCLUSION: The complex and ongoing impact of colonization presents a variety of opportunities and expectations that the City of Kitchener can address. The work of the TRCprovideda framework to facilitate conversations about the scope of a municipal response, but the desire to establish meaningful relationships has emerged as the more substantive mechanism to sustain this work. While the breadth of reconciliation extends to other levels of government, institutions and organizations, there is a role for everyone. The City of Kitchener does not directly administer most of the systems targeted by the TRC, such as the courts, child welfare or health services. Yet when we practice community development we offer programs that promote healing, belonging, inclusion and social well-being —which in turns creates improved community outcomes in these other systems of government. The interrelatedness of this work extends into all aspects related to the land including pressing concerns for the environment. The land not only unites disparate Indigenous nations, but it unites all people living upon it. Climate change provides an impetus to come together, to learn from the original caretakers of the land and ensure that their relationship to the land can be honoured. Therefore, the framework for scoping out reconciliation is driven by our mandate as a corporation, but with an understanding, respect and intention to deliver community benefits that transcend our work. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Victoria Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services 3 - 7 Appendix A: Resources Truth and Reconciliation resources Residential schools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TeW4hW1QD0 Senator Murray Sinclair: What is Reconciliation? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swo9flbACho Chanie Wenjack Heritage Minute https://youtu.be/v_tcCpKtoU0 Apology on behalf of the Government of Canada https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100015644/1100100015649 Phyllis’ story (Orange Shirt Day) http://www.orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story.html Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports http://nctr.ca/reports.php Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf International resources United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf Other government resources Province of Ontario’s Urban Indigenous Action Plan https://www.ontario.ca/page/urban-indigenous-action-plan Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100014597/1100100014637 Landacknowledgement resources Know the Land Territories Campaign http://www.lspirg.org/knowtheland/ Other resources National Indigenous Peoples Day https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100013248/1534872397533 3 - 8 Appendix B: Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action If interpreted narrowly, the work of the TRC provides a limited opportunity to frame municipal reconciliation. The TRC does provide a broad recommendation that "reconciliation must support Aboriginal people as they heal from the destructive legacies of colonization". To honour this direction, staff reviewed all calls to action to examine the intent of the work, and researched the response of other municipalities. This is an ongoing body of work that requires staff to continue to examine these items as we move forward to identify new opportunities that align with our corporate mandate. Calls to actiondirected to municipal governments(4 items) Of the four calls to action directed at municipalities, only one is directly applicableto Kitchener It calls for training for public servants on Indigenous history, rights, and intercultural competency. Another direct call to actionformunicipalitiesrelates to Crown-Indigenous relations, which is outside our jurisdiction. As well, there is a call to release corporate records on residential schools, but no records exist in Kitchener. The final call to action directed at municipalitiesis to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UNDRIPincludes many articles outside municipal mandates including, for example, direction that no military activities take place on Indigenous lands, but does include some articles that acknowledge human rights and support cultural and community development. Canada has officially adopted UNDRIP, but at this time no other province or municipality has done so; only British Columbia has tabled it for consideration. Therefore there is no clear precedent for the application of UNDRIP in a municipal context; however in its Commitment to Reconciliation, the Province of Ontario has committed to “work in partnership with Canada and Indigenous partners as the federal government moves forward on its national plan to implement UNDRIP, and will take a strong, supportive and active role in considering policy options to address UNDRIP.” At this time, staff is not recommending the adoption of UNDRIP,as there is not a clear understanding of the long-term municipal implications, and because many of the articles are outside our municipal mandate. Staff does see an opportunity to honour the spirit of UNDRIP by working with federal, provincial and Indigenous partners on a national plan to implement UNDRIP and incorporate the principles into city policy as appropriate. 3 - 9 Items addressed specifically to municipal governments:Status 43. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments Only partially to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the applicable: Rights of Indigenous Peoplesas the framework for reconciliation.support those matters within our jurisdictionwithout adopting and implementing UNDRIP as the framework. 47. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments Not applicable: to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereigntyover outside our Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra jurisdictionin nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation domain of Crown- strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.Indigenous relations. 57. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments Included in to provide education to public servantson the history of Aboriginal recommendations peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. 77. We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal, and community archives to Not applicable: no work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to corporate records identify and collect copies of all recordsrelevant to the history and exist. legacy of the residential school system, and to provide these to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. 3 - 10 Calls to action directed to all levels of government (9 items) There are nine additional calls to action that are addressed to all levels of government. Most of these are out of scope for Kitchener (e.g., there are no residential school cemeteries in Kitchener). Two items (87 and 88) call for recognition and support for the development of Indigenous athletes. Given Kitchener’s mandate to support sport, Kitchener can support Indigenoussports like lacrosse and increase opportunities for recognition through installations such as the Aud Parade of History. Items addressed to all levels of governmentStatus 3. We call upon all levels of government to fully implement Jordan’s Not applicable: Principle. applies to jurisdictional disputes over costs 17. We call upon all levels of government to enable residential school Not applicable Survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school systemby waiving administrative costs for a period of five years for the name-change process and the revision of official identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers. 23.We call upon all levels of government to:Not applicable: I. Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health carerelated to health field.care; workplace II. Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health-care providers in Aboriginaldiversity is in communities.scope for the III. Provide cultural competency training for all health-care professionals.Mayor’s Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 40. We call on all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal Not applicable people, to create adequately funded and accessible Aboriginal-specific victim programs and serviceswith appropriate evaluation mechanisms. 3 - 11 55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any Not applicableas current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so data relates to that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. the criminal system, health, child services; but any data the City has would be provided upon request 64. We call upon all levels of government that provide public funds to Not applicable denominational schools to require such schools to provide an education on comparative religious studies, which must include a segment on Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders. 75. We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, Not applicable, and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former no residential residential school students, and current landowners to develop and schools in implement strategies and proceduresfor the ongoing identification, Waterloo Region documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteriesor other sites at which residential school children were buried. This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children. 87. We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal Honour through peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide work insport public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history. 88. We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Honour through Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for work insport the North AmericanIndigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorialteam preparation and travel. 3 - 12 Calls to action directed to other organizations (7 items) There are another seven calls to action that indirectly present reconciliation opportunities for Kitchener. While the specific action requested is out of scope for our municipal mandate, we can apply thislens to our work to honour the spirit of the call to action. For example, Call to Action 83 calls on the Canada Council for the Arts to fund a strategy for artists to produce works to contribute to reconciliation. Given Kitchener’s mandate to program two galleries and an artist-in-residence program, it is possible to consider opportunities to support this kind of work and ensure representation of Indigenous content within existing programs. Therefore the following calls to action can be honoured through the delivery of core services, but are not fully within the mandate of the corporationto affect, particularly from a policy perspective. Items that Kitchener can honour based on intent 14. We call upon the federal government to enact anAboriginal Languages Honour through Act that incorporates thefollowing principles:work inculture i. Aboriginal languages are a fundamental and valued element of Canadian culture and society, and thereis an urgency to preserve them. 79. We call upon the federal government, in collaborationwith Survivors, Honour through Aboriginal organizations, and the artscommunity, to develop a reconciliation work inheritage framework forCanadian heritage and commemoration. This wouldinclude, but not be limited to: ii. Revising the policies, criteria, and practices of theNational Program of Historical Commemoration tointegrate Indigenous history, heritage values, and memory practicesinto Canada’s national heritageand history. 80. We call upon the federal government, in collaborationwith Aboriginal Honour any peoples, to establish, as a statutoryholiday, a National Day for Truth and future holidays Reconciliation tohonour Survivors, their families, and communities, andand continue to ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of recognize residential schoolsremains a vital componentof the reconciliation process.National Indigenous People’s Day and Orange Shirt Day 3 - 13 83. We call upon the Canada Council for the Arts toestablish, as a funding Honour through priority, a strategy for Indigenousand non-Indigenous artists to undertake work inculture collaborativeprojects and produce works that contribute to thereconciliation process. 89. We call upon the federal government to amend the Physical Activity and Honour through Sport Act to support reconciliation by ensuring that policies to promote work insport physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport, and build capacity in the Canadian sport system, are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples. 90. We call upon the federal government to ensure that national sports Honour through policies, programs, and initiatives are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples,work in sport including, but not limited to, establishing: i. In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, stable funding for, and access to, community sports programs that reflect the diverse cultures and traditional sporting activities of Aboriginal peoples. ii. An elite athlete development program for Aboriginal athletes. iii. Programs for coaches, trainers, and sports officials that are culturally relevant for Aboriginal peoples. iv. Anti-racism awareness and training programs. 91. We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting Honour through events such as the Olympics, Pan Am, and Commonwealth games to ensure work in sport that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events. 92. We call upon the corporate sector in Canadato adopt the United Nations Honour through Declaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples as a reconciliation work ineconomic framework and toapply its principles, norms, and standards to corporatedevelopment policy and core operational activities involvingIndigenous peoples and their lands and resources. Thiswould include, but not be limited to, the following: i. Commit to meaningful consultation, buildingrespectful relationships, and obtaining the free,prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoplesbefore proceeding with economic development projects. iiEnsure that Aboriginal peoples have equitableaccess to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefitfrom economic development projects. 3 - 14 Appendix C:Background on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) concluded that there is a need for a complete restructuring of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.The RCAP proposed four principles to form the basis of a renewed relationship with Indigenous Peoples: 1.Recognition: The principle of mutual recognition calls on non-Aboriginal Canadians to recognize that Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants and caretakers of this land and have distinctive rights and responsibilities flowing from that status. It calls on Aboriginal people to accept that non-Aboriginal people are also of this land now, by birth and by adoption, with strong ties of love and loyalty. It requires both sides to acknowledge and relate to one another as partners, respecting each other's laws and institutions and co-operating for mutual benefit. 2.Respect: The principle of respect calls on all Canadians to create a climate of positive mutual regard between and among peoples. Respect provides a bulwark against attempts by one partner to dominate or rule over another. Respect for the unique rights and status of First Peoples, and for each Aboriginal person as an individual with a valuable culture and heritage, needs to become part of Canada's national character. 3.Sharing: The principle of sharing calls for the giving and receiving of benefits in fair measure. It is the basis on which Canada was founded, for if Aboriginal peoples had been unwilling to share what they had and what they knew about the land, many of the newcomers would not have lived to prosper. The principle of sharing is central to the treaties and central to the possibility of real equality among the peoples of Canada in the future. 4.Responsibility:Responsibility is the hallmark of a mature relationship. Partners in such a relationship must be accountable for the promises they have made, accountable for behaving honourably, and accountable for the impact of their actions on the well-being of the other. Because we do and always will share the land, the best interests of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people will be served if we act with the highest standards of responsibility, honesty and good faith toward one another. The TRC reaffirms the work of RCAP through the following statements: “…reconciliation involves a conversation not only about residential schools, but also about all other aspects of the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples. As Commissioners, we believe that reconciliation is about respect. That includes both self- respect for Aboriginal people and mutual respect among all Canadians.” “For governments, building a respectful relationship involves dismantling a centuries-old political and bureaucratic culture in which, all too often, policies and programs are still based on failed notions of assimilation.” 3 - 15 “All Canadians have a critical role to play in advancing reconciliation in ways that honour and revitalize the nation-to-nation Treaty relationship.” “Together, Canadians must do more than just talk about reconciliation; we must learn how to practise reconciliation in our everyday lives—within ourselves and our families, and in our communities, governments, places of worship, schools, and workplaces. To do so constructively, Canadians must remain committed to the ongoing work of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships.” 3 - 16