Sociology 1017 (Winter 2019): Assignment on Reconciliation and Schools

This assignment, prepared for Algoma University's Sociology 1017 course, delves into the complexities of reconciliation in Canada, specifically addressing the historical and ongoing impact of residential schools on Aboriginal Peoples. The student analyzes the sufficiency of reconciliation efforts, emphasizing the need for land restoration, financial support, and political authority for First Nations, alongside well-trained social workers and child welfare organizations. The assignment explores the importance of reconciliation as a crucial step after acknowledging the truth about residential schools, advocating for monitoring and assessment of these institutions, providing adequate resources for family support, and preserving Indigenous languages and culture. The student reflects on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's goals, highlighting the need for addressing family issues, health concerns, and ensuring equal opportunities for all Aboriginal students while preserving their cultural heritage. The assignment references key documents and sources, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action and CBC Radio reports, to support the arguments presented.

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.

3) In discovering more about reconciliation as the primary goal of the Truth and
Reconciliation
Commission of Canada, what is your most important learning?
The process of reconciliation is an ongoing one with a good intention of reducing the
injustices imparted to the aboriginals. Careful steps should be adopted to address their family
issues and health concerns as well. Most of them have little resources to spend on child
welfare and with poor health conditions children cannot put their efforts to studies. Most
families might not have a conducive environment (Miller, 2017). In fact parents’ workshops
are also important in schools because they need to understand what the children needs. Once
they are aware of the same, the children can get access to proper conducive environment at
home and be guided by their parents as well. However residential schools in any case will
ensure they are not affected by any damaging environmental impact of their home. Also the
treatment of these children by individual school staffs and teachers should be monitored.
Complete attention imparted to their studies is desirable. Employment is the main objective
of studying for most people, especially the economically backward sections like aboriginals.
The basic idea behind the residential schools is an attempt to provide equal opportunities for
all aboriginal students. So in this journey one needs to be careful not to make them lose their
cultural elements altogether. Rather their culture should be preserved.

References
CBC Radio (2015). 'Reconciliation is not an aboriginal problem, it is a Canadian problem. It
involves all of us.' CBC, Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-
happens-tuesday-edition-1.3096950/reconciliation-is-not-an-aboriginal-problem-it-is-a-
canadian-problem-it-involves-all-of-us-1.3097253
Commission of Canada (2015). Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to
Action, TRC, Retrieved from: http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
Center News (2013). First Nations Governance, Retrieved from:
http://fngovernance.org/news/news_article/what_does_reconciliation_look_like_in_ont
ario
Miller, J.R. (2017). Residential Schools and Reconciliation: Canada Confronts its History,
University of Toronto
Poelzer, G & K. S. Coates (2015). From Treaty Peoples to Treaty Nation: A Road Map for
All Canadians, UBC Press
Regan, P. (2010). Unsettling the Settler Within: Indian Residential Schools, Truth Telling,
and Reconciliation in Canada, UBC Press