The 2015 Federal election campaign began on the heels of the 94 Calls to Action published by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. These “calls to action” urged all levels of government to work together to change policies and programs in a concerted effort to repair the harm caused by residential schools and to move forward with reconciliation yet there has been “… no progress on more than a quarter of the calls to action.” Following this document’s release, a sub-committee of our membership analyzed the recommendations and identified those which fall within our mandate to act upon. (Initial action items appear shaded below.) In 2016 VFCYJC asked our members to report to us what each of their agencies were doing to follow up on these recommendations.
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2019/10/07/What-Truth-And-Reconciliation/
Between federal elections, the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls’ Inquiry final report was released followed by supplemental legal analysis emphasizing that our country’s “… past and current policies, omissions and actions toward First Nations, Inuit and Metis amount to genocide.” Such a pronouncement leaves us no option but to face up to our collective responsibility toward Indigenous peoples.
https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Supplementary-Report_Genocide.pdf
Given the VFCYJC’s broad mandate under both provincial and federal legislation to be aware of the circumstances of youth and families who may come in contact with the justice system, it is incumbent upon us to understand how we can positively influence our communities and bring together all agencies and voices that impact our community’s experience of justice. Addressing justice for Indigenous peoples demands extra effort on our part to educate ourselves on the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism and racism and the many obstacles to equality for Indigenous peoples including unequal access to education, social services, housing, employment, clean water and uncontaminated food.
Given that a key goal in our strategic plan is to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous people in the justice system, we are further required to understand the link between a high proportion of Indigenous youth in the child welfare system (likened to the residential school system in its effects) and the disproportionate numbers of Indigenous people incarcerated. With provisions in the Criminal Code (Gladue report) that direct the courts to take into account the history of the offender, “with particular attention to the circumstances of Aboriginal offenders”, and also to seek “all available sanctions, other than imprisonment” , it should not be the case that “…incarceration rates for Indigenous people are still 10 times higher than for non-Indigenous Canadians.”
https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/why-gladue-has-not-lived-up-to-its-promise-for-indigenous-justice/
Seeking to be better informed and increase our effectiveness, we have committed to educate our members on the impacts of colonization and the obligations that flow from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. VFCYJC Members have attended First Nations Court in Duncan, promoted and increased cultural sensitivity training and participated in sessions at UBCM and AVICC to understand our colonial history, its impacts and the recommendations of the TRC, thus taking steps to address our TRC obligations.
Similarly, the Capital Regional District has also undertaken to demonstrate to the region’s Indigenous peoples that it takes seriously the commitment to work toward a more just society inclusive of Indigenous peoples. Initially, the Special Task Force on First Nations Relations had a one-year mandate which resulted in recommendations for more inclusive models of governance and decision making between the CRD and First Nations governments. In 2016, the Task Force’s term was extended to 2018 and its mandate broadened, to explore ways the CRD could engage in Reconciliation. The resulting document, the Special Task Force on First Nations Relations Final Report summarizes the Task Force’s governance and Reconciliation findings and recommendations, and also documents the successes and some of the lessons learned over the last four years as well as introducing the idea of “Reconciliation through Economic Development”.
The VFCYJC continues to review all recommendations for action put forth and seeks information for our committee as a whole. We also report out to the Federal Government, the Province and to the community through our Annual General Report. We are seeking the results of all action items undertaken and will continue to invite participation, expertise and feedback from Indigenous communities.
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