RECONCILIATION: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER - INTRODUCTION
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have historically aimed to dispossess Indigenous peoples of their rights, lands, and title and assimilate them into "mainstream" Western culture. TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION The Law Society of British Columbia shares that “Residential schooling was a central element of colonial practices and policies. In 2008, the TRC was established because former students and survivors of the residential schools came forth and placed the issue on the public agenda. The TRC report highlights how Canadian law and lawyers played an active role in forcing Indigenous children into residential schools.” 5 The intergenerational impacts of residential schools continue for Indigenous people today and have led to an unequal representation of Indigenous peoples in the correctional, child welfare, justice and health care systems, 6 as well as other social service systems, including public housing. Additionally, residential schools have also been “linked to a number of issues among former residential school students and their children: addiction to alcohol, drugs and gambling, psychological distress, and a greater likelihood of having experienced other trauma such as sexual or physical assault and domestic violence.” 7 Impacts from colonial systems, racism and discrimination against Indigenous peoples have also resulted in systemic barriers, including lack of affordable and appropriate housing, culturally inappropriate health and education services, insufficient employment opportunities, and inadequate infrastructure in Indigenous communities. 8 Across Canada and BC, a disproportionate number of Indigenous peoples are faced with urgent housing issues, including homelessness, overcrowding, critical housing shortages, long waiting lists, lack of capacity to develop new housing, homes in disrepair, and more. 9 Jesse Thistle, a Métis-Cree author and advocate for the homeless, argues that systems of colonization and racism are at the root of the housing disparity between Indigenous and non- Indigenous populations in Canada, stating: “Indigenous homelessness is not simply a response to [current housing markets and the limited availability of affordable housing], but is best understood as the outcome of historically constructed and ongoing settler colonization and racism that have displaced and dispossessed First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples from their traditional governance systems and laws, territories, histories, worldviews, ancestors and 5 Law Society of British Columbia, “Why Reconciliation Matters.” Accessed July 20, 2020. 6 The Royal Canadian Geographical Society/Canadian Geographic, “The Road to Reconciliation” in Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. Accessed July 20, 2020. 7 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. “Reclaiming Power and Place.” Accessed August 19, 2020. 8 Jesse Thistle, “Indigenous Definition of Homelessness in Canada,” Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press , 2017 . Accessed August 25, 2020. 9 Palmer and Associates, “Comprehensive Needs and Capacity Assessment of Aboriginal Housing in BC.” Accessed November 1, 2019.
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