Ask Parliament to Support TRC Calls to Action

On November 20, 2019, the Canadian government appointed Marc Miller as the new Minister of Indigenous Services. We look forward to seeing how Minister Miller will fulfill the fundamental responsibilities of reconciliation, including equity, justice and Indigenous leadership in education.

With this new appointment, we invite you to introduce Minister Miller to the #EducationTogether campaign by urging him to work for justice and equity in education for Indigenous students.

Despite years of promises, there’s still a gap: today, far fewer First Nations children graduate from grade 12 than other children in Canada because they aren’t receiving the proper funding and support needed for a quality education. In spring 2018 the Auditor General reported that the real grade 12 graduation rate for Indigenous students is 24 percent compared to the national average of around 90 percent.

Some good steps have already been taken, from announcements of new funding in 2016 to agreements on self-determining Indigenous education systems; however, further commitments to implementing the TRC Calls to Action 7-10 will be necessary to undo the legacy of chronic underfunding of Indigenous education. Continued positive actions include deepening empowerment of First Nation leadership and detailed analysis - and appropriate adjustment - of funding streams. Full details and data on the impacts and adequacy of the new funding in 2016 are not yet available. This data is necessary to track the fulfilment of the promise to implement TRC 7-10 .

Change is possible. We know that when Indigenous children have the funding and culturally appropriate education that they need, they thrive!

The federal government has promised to implement the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Change has been slow, and we’re still not where we should be. A generation of Indigenous children is waiting for justice and equity. Now is the time to follow through on those promises:

Ask Parliament to implement the TRC Calls to Action and support Indigenous communities!

Read the Backgrounder here or visit the Centre for Public Dialogue.

Photo by MD Duran on Unsplash

Fill in your contact information to take action now!

Subject:

Please implement TRC Calls to Action 7-10

Dear Elected Official,

As a person of Christian faith I believe deeply in God-the-Creator’s call to reconciliation. That’s why I’m grateful that Canada has made important commitments to the TRC Calls to Action and the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I urge you to continue the long-term climb towards reconciliation.

Because residential schools  did so much damage in Indigenous communities, I believe that justice and equity in education, and fulfilling TRC Calls to Action 7-10, are critical for reconciliation and in need of Parliamentary attention.

Helpful funding announcements starting with Budget 2016, and good steps for setting up self-determining Indigenous education systems are promising. But a legacy of chronic underfunding of Indigenous education leads to a staggering injustice today: in Spring 2018 the Auditor General reported that the real grade 12 graduation rate for Indigenous students sits at 24% as opposed to a national average around 90%.

We are thankful for great examples of self-determination in education like Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey that show that equitable funding, strong language and culture curriculum, and the participation of communities and Elders make a massive difference for Indigenous kids. In 2018, 91% of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey students graduated from grade 12 -- right in line  with the Nova Scotian and national averages.

For this reason I ask you and all Parliamentarians to seek what is right for Indigenous kids: 
continue and deepen the good partnership work with Indigenous communities and leaders for self-determination in education; create a clear approach on needs based funding and support for remote locations; complete detailed analysis - and appropriate adjustment - of funding streams; address the important challenges raised by the Auditor General in the Spring report of 2018; and fully implement TRC Calls to Action 7-10.

With the help of Creator God I know that together--Indigenous communities and leaders; and non-Indigenous citizens and leaders--we can achieve justice, equity, and reconciliation in education.

Regards, Your Name

Send me future advocacy emails

Send me text messages about future campaigns

*You'll receive a call from 888-586-4270 that will provide you guidance on what to say to your officials, and then patch you through directly to them.

Thank you! You can encourage others to take action by sharing on social media.

Find more action opportunities at crcna.org/publicdialogue/action-centre

Written below is a brief introduction you can use followed by general talking points to include when speaking with the office of your MP. Calls are generally more impactful when citizens use their own words and speak from their own experiences about why an issue matters to them.

Intro:

Hi! I'm a constituent from [advocate's city] and I’m a person of Christian faith calling to let [member’s name] know that I deeply believe in God-the-Creator’s call to reconciliation. Practically, that means urging continued commitment to the TRC Calls to Action and the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Residential schools’ education did much damage in Indigenous communities
Reconciliation requires fulfilling TRC Calls to Action 7-10
- Coming up with a plan to eliminate education and employment gaps
- Fixing the funding gap
- Releasing an annual report on education funding
- Introducing new Indigenous education legislation
Positive steps: announcements of new funding in 2016 and agreements on self-determining Indigenous education systems
Hurdles: in Spring 2018 the Auditor General reported that the real grade 12 graduation rate for Indigenous students sits at 24% as opposed to a national average around 90%
Could you please:
- continue and deepen the good partnership work with Indigenous communities and leaders for self-determination in education;
- create a clear approach on needs based funding and support for remote locations;
- complete detailed analysis - and appropriate adjustment - of funding streams;
- address the important challenges raised by the Auditor General in the Spring report of 2018; and fully implement TRC Calls to Action 7-10