Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Chad Klassen

2021 FEDERAL ELECTION

DECISION 2021: Truth & Reconciliation

Sep 15, 2021 | 4:49 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a devastating year for first nations across the country. Starting in Kamloops with the discovery of 215 unmarked graves on Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, there have now been more than a thousand found, and likely more to come. In the third part of our federal election coverage, we look at truth and reconciliation and how the parties plan on supporting indigenous communities during this difficult time.

The discovery of 215 unmarked graves in Kamloops this summer sent shock waves across Canada and around the world. Through the grieving process, there have been calls for the federal government to do more.

Thirteen of the 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 have been fully completed. NDP candidate for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Bill Sundhu feels the Liberal government has had an unsatisfactory relationship with First Nations.

“Justin Trudeau, although he talks very strongly about reconciliation, he continues to fight Indigenous kids in court. That’s not reconciliation,” said Sundhu. “Indigenous kids are still not receiving the same kind of funding that non-Indigenous kids get. What about clean water? Here we are, Trudeau failed to meet his targets for clean water, and now he’s extending it to 2026 — 11 years after he said he would take action.”

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Still to this day, there are 51 long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities.

Green candidate for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo says the government’s actions have been mostly symbolic without any real change that’s occurred.

“The government needs to be serious about that. That includes taking seriously the obligations that Canada signed onto with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 94 calls to action, the calls to action from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Commission,” said Currie.

RAW VIDEO: Candidates comment on reconciliation.

The Conservative Party feels true reconciliation includes Indigenous participation in the economy, as well as a more collaborative approach with First Nations communities.

Local candidate Frank Caputo points to the fact the Conservatives created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“In particular, we’re focused on commission items or calls to action 71 to 76, which involve identifying and addressing those perished while at residential schools and making proper records and events,” said Caputo. “Personally, I’m also focused on calls to action 58 to 61, which involve settlement agreement and paying back, restoring the funds that were agreed to by the church, by the government, so we can all move forward.”

The Liberals have promised, once again, to fulfill its promise to First Nations communities on boil-water advisories. The Liberals before the election also committed $321 million to help communities search burial sites and provide emotional support for members.

Local candidate Jesse McCormick’s grandfather is a residential school survivor. He lived with his grandfather and experienced some of the trauma through his lens. McCormick wants to see reconciliation happen.

“I’m very proud that the Liberal government was able to achieve the implementation of 80 per cent of either implemented or substantially advanced of those [94] truth and reconciliation calls to action that pertain specifically to the Government of Canada,” said McCormick. “It remains a foremost priority of our government and is something that, if elected, I will put at the top of my priority chart as the representative for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo.”

The People’s Party of Canada feels instead of following UNDRIP, the United Nations declaration, reaching out to First Nations leaders to see what their communities need to self-govern. PPC also would want to scrap the “paternalistic” Indian Act.