Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Human Rights Commission
On the occasion of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, Interim Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, issues the following statement:
Tomorrow marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. We recognize the atrocities and intergenerational impacts of the Canadian Indian Residential school system, and we honour the children who never came home. We recognize and honour the courage and strength of the survivors of residential schools, their families and Indigenous communities who are leading their own healing and cultural revitalization efforts.
As we commemorate this day, we reflect on the truths that survivors have shared, and consider how each of us can contribute to reconciliation – not only today, but every day. We join people across Canada to reflect, to learn from the truths shared by all Indigenous peoples, and to take meaningful action toward reconciliation in our own lives, workplaces, and communities.
We must act on the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
As Canada’s national human rights institution, the Canadian Human Rights Commission has a responsibility to support reconciliation through action.
The Commission continues to advocate for the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination, culture, language, and land.
Over the past years, the Commission has made improvements to the way it handles complaints of discrimination from Indigenous peoples, implementing a trauma-informed approach and training our staff to better understand colonial impacts on Indigenous peoples in Canada. We litigate in the public interest and work with Indigenous partners outside of the legal system to address systemic discrimination in areas such as policing, child welfare, and housing.
And we know that true reconciliation requires more to be done to improve access to justice, and support the distinct rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to self-determination. This is why the Commission continues to advocate for the creation of human rights mechanisms for Indigenous peoples by Indigenous people.
-30-
Related links
Media contacts
Media Relations
613-943-9118
communications@chrc-ccdp.gc.ca
Stay connected
Follow the Canadian Human Rights Commission on social media.