The 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are aimed at repairing the harm caused by residential schools and advancing truth, reconciliation, and healing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. They are concrete steps that governments, institutions, and all Canadians can take to address the legacy of residential schools and the broader impacts of colonialism on Indigenous communities.
In my classroom, I aim to contribute to reconciliation, especially by addressing Call to Action 62i. It is essential to bring local Indigenous cultures into the classroom through art, language, and music. Since my people (Mnjikaning Anishinaabek) are not local, building connections with local Secwepemc communities in Kwsaltktnews ne Secwepemcl’ecw School District will be key. A classroom committed to reconciliation should also feature books by Indigenous authors and illustrators who share their stories, histories, and traditions in their own voices.