Reconciliation Strategy


The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was officially established on June 2, 2008 with the purpose of documenting the history and lasting negative impacts of the Canadian Indian residential school system on Indigenous students and their families.  The TRC provided residential school survivors with an opportunity to share their experiences during public and private engagement sessions held across the country.  The Commission was constituted and created through the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. 

In December 2015, the TRC released its Final Report that included 94 Calls to Action, which were intended to serve as a guide for governments and other sectors of society to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation in Canada.  Thirty-four Calls to Action were directed at provincial and territorial governments. 

Following the release of the TRC’s final report, Manitoba unanimously ratified The Path to Reconciliation Act, which came into force on March 15, 2016. The act was the first reconciliation legislation of its kind in Canada.

Through The Path to Reconciliation Act, reconciliation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples will be guided by the principles of respect, understanding, engagement and action.

The Act sets out the government's commitment to advancing reconciliation, led by the Minister responsible for reconciliation, the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations.

At the end of June each year, the Minister responsible for reconciliation prepares a report about the measures the government is taking to advance reconciliation. This includes measures to engage Indigenous nations and peoples in the reconciliation process and the implementation of the strategy. These reports can be found here.