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Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Expires April 2028

Facts

  1. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission came forward with “Calls to Action” that are relevant to all Canadians.1
  2. As the Students’ Union, we have a mandate to improve the undergraduate experience at the University of Alberta.
  3. The Students’ Union should adopt Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report that directly relate to the undergraduate experience at the University of Alberta.

  4. Call to Action #7 identifies an education and employment gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.1

  5. Calls to Action #11 identifies a backlog of First Nations students seeking a post-secondary education.1

  6. Aboriginal language programs are important for the University of Alberta to offer for advancing reconciliation and decolonization.

  7. Many programs would benefit from including mandatory content focusing on Aboriginal reconciliation.

  8. Additional funding is required to further integrate Indigenous knowledge into the classroom.

  9. Undergraduate students will benefit from the increased ability to do research focused on understanding reconciliation.

  10. The University of Alberta Museums and Libraries contain repositories of information and artifacts that could help advance understanding and progress on Truth and Reconciliation.

  11. In June 2022, the University of Alberta launched “Braiding Past Present and Future,” and a 5 year Indigenous Strategic Plan responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action which can be utilized to continually strategize ways to advance reconciliation at the university.2,3

  12.  The University has created a “Truth and Reconciliation Commision Report to Community,” 4 which includes an overview of Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Alberta, and a “TRC Dashboard” where progress on initiatives is tracked.5

     

Resolutions

  1. The Students' Union will advocate that the provincial and federal government create and sustain financial assistance programs that seek to increase enrolment of Aboriginal students.
  2. The Students’ Union will advocate that the funding cap on the Post- Secondary Student Support Program be lifted such that aid will be given to all eligible students.5
  3. The Students’ Union advocates that the University of Alberta offer courses and course content on multiple Aboriginal languages and Indigenous history.
  4. The Students’ Union will consult appropriate campus stakeholders with the intention of integrating mandatory courses in Aboriginal Studies for the faculty of Law, Medicine and Dentistry, Nursing; St. Stephen’s and St. Joseph’s College; and the Faculté St. Jean Education.
  5. The Students’ Union will further advocate that all other degree programs mandate Aboriginal course content in relation to that degree.
  6. The Students’ Union will advocate for funding from the provincial and federal governments, as well as the University of Alberta to be given to those that seek to integrate Indigenous knowledge into their curriculum.
  7. The Students’ Union will advocate for the creation of new undergraduate research funding surrounding the understanding of practicing and furthering reconciliation.
  8. The Students’ Union will advocate that University Museums and Libraries share all relevant documents and records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

  9. The Students’ Union will advocate to the University and the Government to work to eliminate the education and employment gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students wherever possible.

  10. The Students’ Union will advocate to the University and the Government to eliminate the backlog of Aboriginal students seeking a Post-Secondary education by making education more accessible to Aboriginal students.

  11. The Students’ Union will advocate to 

    Indigenous Services Canada, Government of Canada. “Post-Secondary Student Support Program.” 

    https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/110010 0033682/1531933580211. 

Sources

  1. Truth and Reconciliation Commision of Canada. “Calls to Action.” 2015. https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Ac tion_English2.pdf.

  2. McMaster, Geoff. Braiding Past, Present and Future: U of A Launches Indigenous-led Strategic Plan. Folio. June 23, 2022. https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2022/06/braiding-past-present-and-future.html.

  3. Office of the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Programming and Research. “Braiding Past, Present and Future.” https://www.ualberta.ca/media-library/indigenous-excellence/indigenous-strategic-plan/indigenous-strategic-plan.pdf.

  4. Indigenous Initiatives, The University of Alberta. “TRC Report to Community.” 2023. https://www.ualberta.ca/indigenous/trc/index.html.

  5. Indigenous Initiatives, The University of Alberta. “TRC Report to Community Dashboard.” https://www.ualberta.ca/indigenous/trc /dashboard/index.html#sort=%40ua__title%20ascending.

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