Injustices are still a part of Indigenous Peoples’ experience

Indigenous Peoples had thrived in Canada on these lands, waters, and ice for thousands of years. They have had their own laws, governance and societal rules ensuring future generations could prosper. When settlers arrived in what is now known as Canada, they arrived with instructions to colonize, control, and capitalize on economic opportunities regardless of the cost to others. Indigenous Peoples’ history and voices were stolen, hidden, and ignored. Since this arrival, there have been many efforts to keep Indigenous Peoples oppressed. For generations, Indigenous people have been robbed of their culture, safety, and health leading to the everyday realities faced by Indigenous people: inadequate housing, intergenerational trauma, and systemic underfunding of Indigenous-focused services. Many Canadians do not understand that colonial laws and policies are used to keep Indigenous Peoples dependent on institutions, like governments and churches. The NDP have been urging the government to address some of these issues, but there is a long way to go to stop the ongoing harm. The examples can sometimes feel endless to Indigenous people. The Neskantaga First Nation have had a boil water advisory in place since February 1995. The 2021 census found that 3.2 per cent of Indigenous children in Canada were in foster care, compared to just 0.2 per cent of non-Indigenous children in Canada. The data also confirmed that the number of Indigenous people living in housing that needs major repairs was almost three times higher than it was for non-Indigenous Canadians. Johannes Rivoire, a former Catholic priest who is accused of sexually assaulting Inuit children in what is now my riding, lives free in a Catholic Church residence in France paid for by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate—even though there have been repeated calls for him to be extradited to face justice for his crimes in Canada. The Wet’suweten hereditary chiefs in British Columbia have been labelled as protesters when all they are doing is defending their inherent right to protect their lands. And, Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit peoples face disproportionate rates of violence. As Parliamentarians, it is up to all of us to help address government practices and policies that perpetuate injustice against Indigenous Peoples. Reminders of these injustices are all around us. Indigenous communities have been devastated by the many children’s grave sites that have been found outside residential schools in the last couple of years. It is no wonder that we, as Indigenous Peoples, still experience intergenerational trauma as these harms have been ingrained and forced on us. This trauma cannot heal until sustainable long-term investments are made for the well-being of future generations of Inuit and all Indigenous Peoples. Beyond healing, we must protect our children from ongoing intergenerational trauma and ensure that this is a legacy of the past. The term “reconciliation” is a loaded word for Indigenous Peoples. This government has its own definition, which is disconnected from the experiences of Indigenous people. There is only one thing that is simple, one thing that is clear: the federal government is nowhere close to reaching true, meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Over the decades, many important studies, commissions, and reports amplifying the voices of Indigenous people have demanded changes. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are only a few that come to mind. All of these reports are clear about what needs to happen but, so far, we haven’t seen the political will to implement these important steps. In order to achieve real reconciliation, the federal government must first: Adhere to the United Nations' Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Respect the inherent Indigenous rights to govern, be self-determined, and oversee their lands, culture, languages, and well-being; Implement all treaties with Indigenous Peoples and ensure that those without treaties are given the same care and services that all Indigenous Peoples deserve; Address the systemic racism that is now known to exist in Canada and take concrete steps to end this racism, including in law enforcement, the justice system, health care and education systems; and Discontinue the chronic underfunding and investments towards Indigenous Peoples. The federal government must act now to ensure Indigenous communities are on par with national standards. Instead of offering more excuses, urgent action is needed to rectify past wrongs and ensure that Indigenous Peoples are no longer discriminated against and devalued. Many Indigenous Peoples do not trust that reconciliation will happen. We have been ignored for too many years. We have been given glimpses of hope that change can happen. Indigenous Peoples have done their work. It is now up to the federal government to act on this process of reconciliation. Lori Idlout has served as an NDP MP for the riding of Nunavut in the House of Commons since 2021. Before her election, Idlout practiced law in Iqaluit with her own firm, Qusagaq Law Office. The Hill Times