‘A lot of work to be done’: Chippewas of Georgina Island reflect on Truth and Reconciliation

Next steps: Including ‘past and present’ Indigenous issues in school curriculum

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 6, 2021
Amanda Persico

Months after Canada’s first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, members of Georgina Island First Nation are reflecting on the day as a ‘good starting point.’

“The creation of a federal statutory holiday, not only for the purpose of recognition and awareness, but also for education and understanding, is a good starting point,” said Chief and Council of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation in a statement.

Establishing a day to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities was one of the calls to action outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Sept. 30 is designated as a federal statutory holiday and was observed as a public holiday in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.

Many municipal and library employees, including Aurora, Georgina, Markham, Vaughan and Whitchurch-Stouffville, were also awarded a day off as part of their union agreements that provide for both provincial and federal statutory holidays.

But that doesn’t hinder the path to reconciliation, said Chief and Council.

“It creates an opportunity for schools, businesses and employers to offer classes, training, discussion about Indigenous issues,” they said. “This would not happen if people were only given a day off work or school.”

But there’s more to truth and reconciliation than offering support on a specific day.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Chief and Council.

“It has always been our people’s belief that we could have a fair and equitable existence as two nations. We are hoping this will soon be a reality.”

Chief and Council point to education and as the next steps forward, from Indigenous issues included in the education curriculum to mandatory Indigenous awareness training.

And it is the responsibility of all levels of government, along with the education system, to ensure Indigenous issues, ‘both past and present’, are included in the curriculum, they added.

Along with education, there needs to be pressure on local governments to consult with Indigenous communities when it comes to environmental impacts on lands and waters shared under treaty, they added.

“This is vital for any forward movement in the reconciliation process,” they said.

Earlier this year the provincial government announced it was establishing an expert advisory panel for the stalled Upper York Sewage Solutions project that would see more than 47 million litres of treated water pumped into Lake Simcoe daily.

“This panel will consult with key stakeholders and meaningfully engage with Indigenous communities,” said environment conservation and parks minister Jeff Yurek at the time.

But there hasn’t been ‘close consultation’ on the project, said Georgina Island First Nation environmental co-ordinator Brandon Stiles at the time.

The road to reconciliation is not the same across band lines.

Suzanne Smoke, an Indigenous Cultural Co-ordinator and member of the Alderville First Nation, said reconciliation is a long, long way down the road.

The mainland Georgina resident points to how the federal government is still fighting residential school survivor claims in court and only recently announced a national action plan to end violence against Indigenous women and girls.

“Those are not attempts at reconciling,” Smoke said. “It’s going to take a long-term commitment on the part of all Canadians, and over generations.”

And there are certain ‘musts’ on the road to reconciliation, she added, where it’s the responsibility of each Canadian to read reports from the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Commission.

“Individually, if Canadians are as horrified by the large pits of hidden, dead children -- graves indicate a knowledge or a memorial, which is not the case,” then take these steps, she said.

Other immediate actions include pushing political leaders for Indigenous policies and clean drinking water for First Nations, she added.

Currently, Georgina Island First Nation is under a long-term water advisory -- one of more than 40 long-term advisories on more than 30 First Nations communities.

For more information, visit: nctr.ca/records and mmiwg-ffada.ca.