What is Truth and Reconciliation?

Use these resources to learn about the history, heritage, and culture of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, as well as the Truth and Reconciliation process. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s mandate is to inform all Canadians of the history of the residential school system and to record the experiences of survivors, their families, and others involved. The Commission released a 2015 report which led to 94 Calls to Action – individual instructions to guide governments, communities, and faith groups down the road to reconciliation.

Below are a selection of resources on Truth and Reconciliation and what has been done in British Columbia to support the findings of the Truth Reconciliation Commission. We hope you find these resources useful:

• Native Land Identifier – find out which Indigenous Peoples have lived in your region since time immemorial.
• Whose Land  App – Identifies Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities across Canada.  
• Ancestral Land Checking service – Text your postal code to 1.907.312.5085 and you will receive a text back indicating in whose territory you are located. Though accurate, it is not always complete, so it is always advisable to confirm. If you cannot confirm you should still acknowledge the territory, but indicate you are not 100% sure and you are open to being corrected.  

• Discover the meaning of the Survivors’ Flag, created by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and Indigenous communities from across Canada.
• Learn more at CBC’s interactive guide Beyond 94
• For more information on residential schools and Truth and Reconciliation, visit The National Circle for Truth and Reconciliation’s website.
• ‘We all live on Indigenous Land’ – a Public Policy Forum report that details the importance of Indigenous education among newcomers to Canada.
• ‘Welcome to our Homelands’ – an ISSofBC-produced video designed to expand the dialogue between Indigenous and newcomer communities.
• ‘The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada’ – a series of five online modules that inform students on the rich Indigenous history and culture in the land we now call Canada.
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 Calls to Action – especially 93/94 for Newcomers to Canada.
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (available in multiple languages)
• British Columbia’s UN Declaration Action Plan – Read the Province’s latest policies to recognize Truth and Reconciliation and support Indigenous communities.

Reconciliation is a process and it is important to know that we are all responsible to live our lives aware of the full history of the place we call home in Canada. It’s also important to understand what we can all do as new arrivals on this land and what our next steps are.

Visit On Canada Project to learn what steps can be taken.