Week 41 – On The Matter of Accountability from Robertson, David A. 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing
Canada and its governments don’t have the best track record when it comes to fulfilling their promises. Have you ever gone back after an election and taken a closer look at what was promised, how much progress was actually made, what was followed through on, and what was pushed aside?
This matters when we look at the promises made to Indigenous peoples.
Indigenous peoples were asked to hand over large areas of land in exchange for things such as cash, blankets and clothing, farming equipment, and commitments like the prohibition of alcohol. Promises were made, but many were broken. These broken promises became known as “outside promises.”
In 1988, the Manitoba government created the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry (AJI) in response to the deaths of two Indigenous women. At the conclusion of its investigation, the AJI made 296 recommendations, all focused on the justice system and its treatment of Indigenous peoples. These were reasonable recommendations that could have helped improve the lives of Indigenous people and strengthen relationships with officials. Yet, to date, almost none of these recommendations have been implemented.
The AJI also made specific recommendations to help protect Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit folks, who experience violence and are murdered at disproportionately high rates.
Robertson writes about how, in 2008, it was estimated that hundreds of Indigenous women had been murdered or gone missing since 1980. Today, experts believe that number is more than 4,000. With the growing number of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit, a National Inquiry was launched. The Inquiry resulted in 231 Calls for Justice. The government's response included the statement that this was not a “tick-the-box” kind of thing. Yet the report literally contains boxes to be checked.
Another example that makes you stop and think.
The Canadian government spent half a billion dollars on Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations, which largely overlooked the contributions and involvement of Indigenous peoples in our country’s history. At the same time, the government had pledged to end all long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities by 2021. That deadline was later pushed to 2025. Today, there is still 27 First Nations communities who continue to live under drinking water advisories.
Perhaps instead of spending half a billion dollars on celebrations, some of that money should have been used to check a few more boxes and help fulfill the promises that had been made.
Elections matter.
Take a closer look at the promises being made. Look at the progress on promises from previous elections. Look at whether proposed actions respect Indigenous peoples, treaties, and the commitments Canada has made, or whether they serve other interests.
Before you mark your X on the ballot, take a closer look.
Who is this benefiting? And just as importantly, who is being left behind?
Jennifer Aldous
Want to read last weeks post, you can do so here.