94 Quilt: Blocks 50 - 56

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Reconciliation

50.  Establish Indigenous law institutes.

In progress. Projects proposed.

This is in keeping with UNDRIP.

• Within the 2019 budget is $9.1 million over three years to build an Indigenous Legal Lodge at the University of Victoria, BC.
• In July 2021, just under $1 million over  three years was allocated to Iroquois and Allied Indians and Lakehead University's law faculty in Thunder Bay, ON, towards an Indigenous law institute.
• Also in the 2019 budget was $10 million over five years in support of Indigenous law initiatives. $134 127 has gone to the University of Alberta for the development of the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge, a partnership between the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Native Studies.

So when certain party leaders on the campaign trail say that if they become Prime Minister, they'll immediately adopt all 94 Calls, one sees that this is a grandiose statement, one that leans towards flippant, when we look at what has been started just within this one call! These are huge undertakings, and can't be implemented "immediately" as this particular party leader stated.

There is more information on Beyond 94 on what is going on wrt this Call. The Federation of Law Societies of Canada has an advisory committee which has been doing work on this Call and others to do with law.

51.  Government of Canada to develop policy of transparency upon legal opinions upon which it acts in regard to Aboriginal and Treaty rights.

Not started.

52. Adopt legal principles on Aboriginal title claims.

Not started.

In part the actual call goes on to say, "Aboriginal title claims are accepted once the Aboriginal claimant has established occupation over a particular territory at a particular point in time."

• This one bears further reading on Beyond 94.
• Keep in mind that the likes of you and me (European descendants and other immigrants) are living on stolen land.

53. Establish a National Council for Reconciliation.

Enact legislation to establish a council as a national independent oversight body. Membership would be jointly appointed by the Government of Canada and National Aboriginal organizations.

In progress. Projects proposed.

• The federal government committed to establish this and pledged $126.5 million towards it, less than what was called for.

54. Provide multi-year funding for the National Council of Reconciliation.

Not started. See Call #53.

55. Provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council of Reconciliation.

Not started.

• Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett appointed an interim Board of Directors, chaired by Grand Chief Willie Littlechild whose task it was to develop the council.

56. Prime Minister of Canada to issue an annual 'State of Aboriginal Peoples' report.

Not started.

Sites, Articles, Books of Interest

2018 short CBC Article about Beyond 94 Teachers' Guide for classroom studies. It is free. Remember tat CBC is federally funded by whatever party is in power, so they are using federal taxpayers' money to not only develop Beyond 94 website, but this guide as well.

I've mentioned it before on my blog, but there is an excellent hour-long radio show on CBC Music, their FM station, which you can also listen to through their free app, CBC Listen, anytime, since the shows are recorded and stay there. It's called Reclaimed, and it's the first of its kind. It has introduced me to a lot of Indigenous bands and music, not just from Canada but from several countries. It's hosted by Jarrett Martineau, an "award-winning Indigenous media maker, scholar, artist and storyteller." Read his bio on his site and you will be in awe of what an accomplished person he is.

In case you missed it on Instagram, I posted my turquoise bowtie string blocks for August. I might make one more; it depends how things look once I lay them all out. I need 48. As I said on Instagram, gosh, I could make an entire quilt of these turquoise strings, I love them so much! And, truth be told, I probably have enough to do just that!