Minister Bennett Announces Interim Board of Directors for the National Council for Reconciliation

Canada is making progress on implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action

OTTAWA, Dec. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, announced the appointment of six members to the Interim Board of Directors for the National Council for Reconciliation.

Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild, a former Commissioner on the Truth and Reconciliation Commmission, will chair the Interim Board. He will be joined by Max FineDay, Mike DeGagné, Clint Davis, Edith Cloutier, and Jean Teillet.

The appointments will help advance Canada's commitment to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (CTA), and are directly linked to CTA #53 and #54. These CTAs call for the establishment of a National Council for Reconciliation, and multi-year funding for the National Council and the endowment of a National Reconciliation Trust.

Over the course of the next six months, the Board members will engage with various stakeholders to recommend options for the establishment of the National Council for Reconciliation and the endowment of a National Reconciliation Trust.

Implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action is an important milestone in Canada's journey of reconciliation. The work of this Interim Board of Directors will form a vital guidepost along that journey.

Quotes

• "Reconciliation is not just an Indigenous issue, it's a Canadian one, and it will take genuine collaboration at all levels to advance this journey. I am honoured that these highly accomplished and dedicated individuals have agreed to serve on Interim Board of the Reconciliation Council. I look forward to receiving their concrete recommendations that will further the Government's commitment to advancing reconciliation for the benefit of all Canadians."‎

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

• "‎Noting the importance and positive impact of follow up on the TRC's calls to action, I am very encouraged by this government's move to establish an interim committee to work on the Council for Reconciliation. A tremendous amount has been done to promote Reconciliation across Canada since our report. However, there is no coordinating or monitoring mechanism. I look forward with interest to the establishment of a Council who will be influential in the increased engagement of the rest of Canada. True reconciliation requires all of us working together."

Wilton Littlechild

Chair, Interim Board, National Reconciliation Council

Quick Facts

• On June 2, 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's released 94 Calls to Action aimed at redressing the legacy of residential schools and advancing reconciliation in Canada.
• To date, progress has been made on over two-thirds of the Calls to Action under federal or shared responsibility.

Associated Links

Prime Minister announcement of the Creation of Interim Board of Directors

Truth and Reconciliation Commission's: Calls to Action

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SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Media may contact: Sabrina Williams, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, 613-697-8316; INAC Media Relations, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 819-953-1160