Round table explores how reconciliation can create meaningful relationships with Indigenous People

Formally established on June 1, 2008 and created with a five-year mandate to “establishing new relationships embedded in mutual recognition and respect that will forge a brighter future,” Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was one of a long line of truth commissions that have emerged since the early 1970’s to address human rights abuses.

Different, however, from other truth commissions, the TRC was to acknowledge residential school experiences, provide a safe setting for testimonials, support and facilitate truth and reconciliation events, promote awareness and public education, create a historical record, support commemoration events and make recommendations concerning the residential school  experience. 

A form of truth seeking but as is maintained by Rosemary Naggy in the paper “Truth Reconciliation and Settler Denial,” what was/is needed, is a truth seeking “that explicitly connects residential schools to current issues such as discriminatory funding for First Nations child welfare and education, public indifferences to missing Indigenous women, outstanding land claims and treaty processes.”  

More pointedly, Mohawk scholar, Taiaiake Alfred argues in his book Wasase: Indigenous Pathways to Action and Freedom ,  that “without massive restitution, including land, financial transfers and other forms of assistance to compensate for past harms …. reconciliation would permanently enshrine colonial injustices and is itself a further injustice.”

Has the TRC helped to establish a “new relationship” or has it helped to “permanently enshrine colonial injustices?”

Lakehead University and the Thunder Bay Art Gallery will host a round table discussion called Reconciliation as Pathway for Meaningful Relationships with Indigenous Peoples from 2 to 4 pm on Monday, March 7 at the Art Gallery at 1080 Keewatin St.

Dr. Robson is an associate professor in Indigenous Learning at Lakehead.

He is on the panel with Sam Achneepineskum, a member of the City of Thunder Bay’s Elders Advisory Council and Elder in Residence at Shelter House; Denise Baxter is a Student Achievement Officer with the Ministry of Education; Lorena Fontaine, assistant professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Winnipeg; and Ry Moran, director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

This free discussion will be moderated by Dr. Christopher Mushquash, associate professor in Psychology at Lakehead University and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction.

Everyone is invited to attend.