Truth and Reconciliation

"We call upon all levels of government to fully implement Jordan’s Principle."

Jordan's Principle makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Regional focal points and service coordinators will help you with a request for free.

"We call upon all levels of government to enable residential school Survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system by waiving administrative costs for a period of five years for the name-change process and the revision of official identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers."

The Municipality of Mississippi Mills has waived the administrative fee for commissioning documents for residential school survivors and their families who wish to reclaim their names changed by the residential school system.

"We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as the framework for reconciliation."

Visit the Government of Canada's webpage for more information on their action plan to implement the act.

"We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts."

Municipal governments have no authority or expertise in areas regarding Indigenous rights. That is in the domain of the Crown – Provincial and/or Federal.

"We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism."

In Mississippi mills, municipal staff have been directed to develop an education plan for Council and staff.

"We call upon provincial, territorial, municipal, and community archives to work collaboratively with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation identify and collect copies of all records relevant to the history and legacy of the residential school system, and to provide these to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation."

Though there were no federally funded residential schools in the Ottawa Valley area, it is important to recognize that Indigenous children in this area may have been sent away to distant residential schools, or may have friends and relatives who may have been affected by the residential school system.

"We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process."

In 2021, the federal government made September 30 a statutory holiday for private-sector employees to whom the Canada Labour Code applies to, as well as federal government employees.

Locally, Mississippi Mills Council proclaims annually September 30 as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

"We call upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history."

"We call upon all levels of government to take action to ensure long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth, and continued support for the North American Indigenous Games, including funding to host the games and for provincial and territorial team preparation and travel."