10 things every Canadian should know about Truth and Reconciliation

Written by Shaneeka Forrester for RTOERO in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, 2025. Shaneeka is a Cree artist, mother and advocate from Brunswick House First Nation, planting roots in Simcoe County, Ontario

Truth and Reconciliation is a phrase that is heard frequently when Indigenous people in Canada are discussed. As our Nation leans toward honoring the truths of the past, I’m going to attempt to share 10 things that I think everyone should know as they explore Truth and Reconciliation.

1. The Residential School system has had an impact on every Indigenous person in Canada.
2. In 2006 the Canadian government, Residential School Survivors and the churches that operated the schools created the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). This agreement was implemented in 2007 and was seen as “a fair and lasting resolution to the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools.” This agreement had 5 key components to address the legacy of Residential schools.
   • a Common Experience Payment (CEP) for all eligible former students of Indian Residential Schools
   • an Independent Assessment Process (IAP) for claims of sexual or serious physical abuse
   • measures to support healing such as the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program and an endowment to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation
   • commemorative activities
   • the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
3. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established in 2008 and concluded in 2015. Survivors shared their stories through interviews, written statements and public forums. The TRC was able to gather over 6,5000 testimonials from survivors and produced a multi-volume final report with their findings. Within this report are the 94 Calls to Action that are to be used as pathways towards reconciliation.
4. Although the content of the TRC’s final report addresses the legacy of residential schools, the calls to action were not created for Indigenous individuals. Alternatively, these calls to action are actionable steps non-Indigenous Canadians can take to help move the Nation towards collective healing.
5. Call to Action number 80 sparked the creation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed on September 30. Orange Shirt Day, is also on September 30th and honours the children that never came home, as well as the survivors of residential schools.
6. Although many people within Indigenous communities across Turtle Island had known this for decades, validation came for many when the TRC concluded that the residential school system amounted to a cultural genocide.
7. Some Indigenous individuals feel a fatigue from TRC due to its slow-moving progress. To date, only 13 of the 94 Calls to Action have been completed. In 2023, there was not a single call to action completed. In 2024, actions #53 and #19 were considered completed. It is not hard to see that the calls to action have been slow moving, and progress can sometimes feel underwhelming. However, progress is still happening and that deserves some hopeful optimism in my eyes.
8. Recently I had the opportunity to go to a book signing for Jesse Wente’s “Unreconciled.” During his talk he spoke about how Truth and Reconciliation are intrinsically interwoven and cannot be separated. So for my #7 of what people should know I would like to echo these sentiments. Reconciliation cannot exist without truth, otherwise the pathway to reconciliation becomes muddled.
9. The 94 Calls to Action are gifts from our ancestors and the survivors of residential schools. If it were not for their bravery and courage to share their lived experiences, the TRC would not have been able to create such a comprehensive report.
10. Lastly, it is important that despite the slow progress we keep hope for future generations. Maintaining a hope and desire for a reconciled nation builds meaningful connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.

As we move forward, I can’t help but think that Truth and Reconciliation is a unique opportunity for the living generation within Canada. It helps connect us to our ancestors, while honouring the living survivors and creating meaningful changes for those to come.