Strengthening Relations with Indigenous Governments

Truth and Reconciliation

On June 2, 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released ‘Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future – the Summary of the Final Report’. The report included 94 recommendations as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. The report and recommendations are intended to help address the legacy of residential schools in Canada and advance the process of reconciliation. The Calls to Action were developed after six years of research and consideration by the Commission. This work involved an extensive review of archival records and hearings held with survivors across the country, including the Northwest Territories (NWT).

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) thanks the Commission and commends the many survivors who participated in this important work. The GNWT agrees that this work must not be forgotten, but rather it should lead to further discussion and concrete steps to improve the lives of Aboriginal Canadians. The GNWT believes that the Calls to Action should help shape public discourse about the steps required to achieve reconciliation with Aboriginal Canadians. In this spirit, the GNWT has offered its responses to the Calls to the Actions. The GNWT’s responses are not intended to be a full answer to the recommendations. They represent a new step in the broader process of reconciliation.