National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, like other days of recognition, is an opportunity to think about the reason behind the “day.”
When I think of truth and reconciliation day, my feelings are mixed.
It’s a somber day because the truth reminds everyone of the harms that can’t be undone, and of the people who have suffered directly and intergenerationally because of those harms.
It’s also somber because these harms have resulted in disproportionate poverty, and its impacts; inadequate housing and clean water; and all the other impacts we can point to in the health, justice and educational systems.
However, it is also an important official day of recognition as it is evidence that progress is being made towards understanding and repairing the relationship between Indigenous people and those who settled and whose descendants have lived here since contact. And although it is only a day, it marks a point when we can redouble our efforts towards reconciling this shared history.
Our relationship is now being talked about in our school system: our children are learning about the rich culture of Indigenous communities; about the arrival of missionaries and residential schools; the disruption of entire communities; of the reserve system; and of the imposition of colonial laws.
We are also investing in programs and services that address individual and structural racism, and creating spaces in our public institutions for Indigenous peoples where previously none existed. Reconciliation agreements, treaties, shared governance, the restoration of self-government and full autonomy in the provision of certain services all point to progress, including here on the Sunshine Coast.
And the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act entrenches the United Nations declaration into provincial statutes, and creates a framework for reconciliation in BC in keeping with the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Social and health outcomes are improving, the restoration of rights associated with title have continued, outdated and arbitrary jurisdictional conflicts are being resolved, and Indigenous communities and lands are being reflected in the marking of original place names.
While the day for truth and reconciliation is symbolic, these accomplishments are not – they are the result of advocacy from Indigenous communities whose resilience has withstood unimaginable changes to all aspects of their communities’ lives.
While it has taken too long to get to where we are, generosity is evident from all communities in the ongoing process of reconciliation.
Nicholas Simons is MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast and provincial minister of social development and poverty reduction.
