The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), released in 2015, documented the devastating legacy of residential schools. Its 94 Calls to Action set out a roadmap for healing, reconciliation, and systemic change across institutions. Several of these Calls are directed squarely at education.
What the TRC Demands in Education
Curriculum reform: All Canadians should learn the history and legacy of residential schools, treaties, and Indigenous rights.
Language revitalization: Protect and promote Indigenous languages as fundamental to cultural survival.
Teacher training: Ensure educators have the tools to teach Indigenous histories and contemporary realities respectfully and accurately.
Equity in education funding: End the gap in funding for Indigenous children both on- and off-reserve.
Why It Matters
For Indigenous youth: It means having access to quality education that reflects who they are, without being forced to choose between culture and schooling.
For non-Indigenous youth: It builds awareness, empathy, and accountability, making reconciliation a shared responsibility.
For Canada as a whole: Education is not just about the past—it’s about reshaping the future so injustices aren’t repeated.
Where We Are Now
Some provinces have made strides in weaving Indigenous content into curriculum, but implementation is inconsistent and often shallow.
Language revitalization programs exist, but many rely on short-term funding rather than long-term commitments.
Teacher preparation is still uneven: some graduate with strong cultural competency training, while others have little exposure.
The Challenge
Reconciliation in education risks becoming symbolic rather than structural. Without accountability, the Calls to Action remain powerful words on paper rather than lived change in classrooms.
The Question
How do we ensure that Canada’s TRC Calls to Action on education are not treated as optional add-ons, but as non-negotiable commitments to future generations?
TRC Calls to Action
The Background
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), released in 2015, documented the devastating legacy of residential schools. Its 94 Calls to Action set out a roadmap for healing, reconciliation, and systemic change across institutions. Several of these Calls are directed squarely at education.
What the TRC Demands in Education
Why It Matters
Where We Are Now
The Challenge
Reconciliation in education risks becoming symbolic rather than structural. Without accountability, the Calls to Action remain powerful words on paper rather than lived change in classrooms.
The Question
How do we ensure that Canada’s TRC Calls to Action on education are not treated as optional add-ons, but as non-negotiable commitments to future generations?