Let’s learn from the past to build a better future!

On this first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, ACÉPO honours residential school survivors and their communities.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada announced its 94 calls to action. The horrifying discoveries of burial sites near several residential schools highlight the urgency to achieve reconciliation, as requested by Indigenous peoples. The issue of residential schools illustrates systemic racism in its institutional form. Though some discriminatory laws have been repealed, the attitudes, prejudices and systemic racism are still prevalent in today’s society. It is important to reconcile the past and promote social cohesion in the future. 

ACÉPO is pleased with Minister Lecce and Minister Rickford recent decision to strengthen Indigenous learning in schools through a meaningful co-development process with Indigenous partners. We hope that this measure is part of a concrete and swift action plan that Ontario government is putting in place to carry out reconciliation and its 94 calls to action.

ACÉPO reiterates its commitment to placing special emphasis on education about our country’s Indigenous history, enhancing our relationship with Ontario’s Indigenous communities, combatting stereotypes and stigmas and supporting the five calls to action in the area of First Nations education developed in 2019 by the Youth Leaders of the Assembly of First Nations.