N.L. government not moving on major reconciliation calls to action, First Light says
Justin Campbell is the research director at Indigenous advocacy coalition First Light. He says the group is highlighting three main calls to action that the province has yet to implement after years of advocacy. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)
A comprehensive report released Monday on truth and reconciliation efforts in Newfoundland and Labrador underscores paltry efforts by the province on several fronts.
The report, released by Indigenous advocacy coalition First Light, focuses on three key actions: redeveloping an outdated K-12 school curriculum, continuing to promote anti-racism in policing and justice and recognizing the inherent rights of urban Indigenous peoples.
"Part of the reason for issuing this report is to make it very clear what it means to advance truth and reconciliation. We should be well beyond the point of, you know, simply expressing good intentions," research director Justin Campbell told reporters.
Campbell said First Light has been pushing for its calls for action to be implemented, but has hit bureaucratic roadblocks.
For example, he said the group has asked the province's Department of Education to highlight the steps it has taken to develop new curriculum that properly represents the province's different Indigenous groups and urban Indigenous peoples — but said the department couldn't point to substantial progress or be accountable with timelines.
"If people are not well educated about the histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples in the province, then they're not going to be well positioned to advance truth and reconciliation," he said.
"Our report says exactly what truth and reconciliation would mean for St. John's, and we've been very clear about the next steps in this report in terms of what government needs to do."
First Light has also been calling on the province to implement a civilian-led police oversight board, which has been described as a proactive agency that can look at systemic issues with policing, since 2022.
Campbell said he's concerned the province hasn't yet committed to that.
"We have also done all of the heavy lifting in terms of research and policy development to set out exactly what that board would look like. And I'm disappointed to say that two years after we released that report, the Department of Justice has made little to no progress."
Scott Reid, Newfoundland and Labrador's minister of Indigenous affairs and reconciliation, said he's committed to advocating for the report's calls to action. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)
Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Scott Reid told reporters following a presentation of the report that he would like to see a police oversight board and is ready to advocate the report's findings to other ministers.
Asked why action hasn't been taken on some of the report's items after years of advocacy, he said some are "difficult, long-term issues."
"I appreciate that they've taken an overview of societal changes, and I appreciate the fact that they've highlighted certain areas that they see as priority areas. And those are areas that I'm willing to work with them in addressing, and work within government and advocating for change," he said.
Reid added there are improvements can be also made in education and said the department has begun redeveloping the curriculum. He did not point to specific changes, however.
PC Leader Tony Wakeham voiced disappointment that First Light's calls to action haven't been implemented.
If elected, a PC government would implement curriculum redevelopment, a citizen-led police board and acknowledge the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples "right off the bat," he said.
"When we talk about truth and reconciliation, it can't simply be about words. It has to be action, and that's what's missing," he said.
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