Reconciliation and Injustices: Addressing Canada's Aboriginal Peoples

1) When you think of what you’ve learned, do you think reconciliation is sufficient to address
the injustices suffered by Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples?
I think reconciliation is at least an honest attempt to restore peaceful interactions and
at least reduce the wounds of injustices. The healing process will take time but every step
towards effective reconciliation is one step to cure the injustices inflicted upon the
Aboriginals since long. This is not merely regarding the concept and practice of residential
educational institutions (Regan, 2010). Rather reconciliation involves restoration of plots of
lands, financial sustenance and self-sufficiency and political authority to First Nations. The
social workers and child welfare organizations should be well trained and prepared to handle
the aboriginals’ issues. This also comprises providing ample resources to the families for
child welfare and to keep them together. This also nourishes respectful and ideal associations
amongst First Nations and Canada (Commission of Canada, 2015). The colonial history has
had a deep impact on the indigenous people of Canada. Now, after decolonization remarkable
alterations were needed at the central level. Reconciliation is unique to each region. There are
variations in culture and history among 630 or more First Nations of Canada. Moreover there
are differences in the socio economic aspects of settlers, versatile ecosystems and economic
divisions (Center News, 2013). Alongside, a variety in legal regimes in individual regimes of
each province results from jurisdictional differentiation of powers at provincial and federal
levels. The most significant class-action completion in Canada started with the Indian
Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. So if an honest approach is adopted then at least
the aboriginals can feel them being included in the mainstream of Canadian society. An
inclusive system of education could also be important to make them feel at one with the
nation instead of being treated as separate community.

2) Why do you think reconciliation is an important next step after learning the truth about
IndianResidential Schools?
I feel proper monitoring and assessment should be carried out of the residential
schools and their services towards the Aboriginal children in their care. First, in order to
maintain child welfare the government needs to monitor and assess instances of neglect of
children. Sufficient resources need to be provided to facilitate the aboriginal localities and
child-welfare organizations to strengthen the bond of families. Children should be housed in
culturally suitable ambience irrespective of their residence. The gaps between education and
employment should be addressed by creating more jobs for aboriginal people (CRC Radio,
2015). The Federal government needs to remove the differences in their funding for First
Nations children for their education on reserves and those children who are educated apart
from reserves. Their language also needs to be preserved in order to enhance their culture.
The curricula developed should therefore be friendly to their culture. The residential schools
should facilitate sufficient funding to bring to conclusion the excess of First Nations students
who want to move on to post-secondary education. Culturally suitable early childhood
education programs directed towards aboriginal families should be called for. Workshops and
interactions with parents should also be facilitated. The students to teacher ratio in each class
should be lower in order to impart proper individual care for the children. Proper care today
will reduce the children under such care in future (Poelzer & Coates, 2015). Global education
system and an understanding of multiculturalism and tolerance should be imparted within the
children. Higher studies for these aboriginal children are likely to take place in inclusive
classrooms where they will study with people from various cultures. These schools should
make them ready for the same.