Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a time for people to learn the truth about what happened at residential schools. It is a time to better understand how residential schools have shaped our communities. A time for everyone to ask how to make up for the harm done to generations of Indigenous families.
The legacy of residential schools is a painful chapter in Canada’s story. The trauma experienced at these schools continues to affect communities, cultures, and families across the country. In the Northwest Territories, the legacy of residential school experience is a living history. The last residential school in the NWT – Grollier Hall – closed in 1997. The government and the Church denied Indigenous children and families basic human rights for over one hundred years.
The impact of residential schools cannot be erased. Recovering from the trauma Indigenous people endured requires patience and support. Reconciliation requires ongoing efforts to learn the true impact of one hundred years of harm. We must commit to rebuilding community relationships, so we value and support every person. This requires money to fight harmful stereotypes and develop inclusive systems.
Every person deserves the right to live with dignity. We must listen to the voices of residential school survivors. We must acknowledge their experiences and support their journey towards healing. True healing and reconciliation can only be achieved through effort from everyone in our communities.
The Commission calls on governments and organizations to commit resources to support and improve Indigenous health, education, and employment. We call on the government and organizations to provide financial support to revive Indigenous social and cultural identities.
The NWT Human Rights Commission commits to working with Indigenous peoples to help build a future where human rights are respected. We want to see a path forward that supports Indigenous languages, cultures, and traditions and where past trauma will not define the future.
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