Question Period Note: Reconciliation at Parks Canada

Reconciliation at Parks Canada

• The Government is committed to reconciliation and renewed relationships with Indigenous peoples. Parks Canada works with over 300 Indigenous groups across the country and is committed to recognizing the contributions, histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples.
• Parks Canada is committed to a system of heritage places managed in a manner that reflects the spirit and intent of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and implements Section 35 rights and treaty obligations.
• Parks Canada recognizes that Indigenous peoples are unique partners with whom the Agency shares responsibility for stewardship of the heritage places it administers, which include lands and waters used by Indigenous peoples since time immemorial.
• Parks Canada is committed to working with Indigenous knowledge holders in order to reflect Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and priorities within its planning, management and operations.

CALL TO ACTION #79 AND BUDGET 2018

• The Government is committed to implementing the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
• As recommended under Call to Action 79, Parks Canada is working in partnership with Indigenous organizations and communities to strengthen the commemoration and presentation of Indigenous histories.
• Parks Canada is committed to include Indigenous representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

• Parks Canada works approximately 300 Indigenous communities across Canada in protecting and presenting Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. The majority of lands and waters now administered by the Agency have been used by Indigenous peoples since time immemorial.
• Parks Canada is uniquely positioned to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples through the system of heritage places it administers, through opportunities to share stories of Indigenous histories and cultures with over 20 million visitors, to promote Indigenous languages and to support Indigenous stewardship of traditional lands and waters.

COLLABORATION WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

• Parks Canada works collaboratively with Indigenous peoples on many projects and programs as well as through cooperative management structures, to support Indigenous peoples’ stewardship of natural and cultural heritage. In addition, the Agency is involved in negotiations at heritage places across the system to reach mutually acceptable agreements with Indigenous peoples on the implementation of rights.
• In July 2019, Parks Canada launched its internal work plan: Mapping Change: Fostering a Culture of Reconciliation within Parks Canada, which provides strategic Agency-wide direction on priority actions to address barriers, and coordinate and promote the transformational work required for progress towards reconciliation. The work plan, which was developed with extensive input from Parks Canada team members, sets out over 40 actions to be taken in a two to five year timeline.

CALL TO ACTION #79 AND BUDGET 2018

• The Call to Action (CTA) 79 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls for historical commemoration activities, and recognition and acknowledgement of the contributions Indigenous peoples have made to Canada’s history. In response, Budget 2018 announced $23.9M over five years to work with Indigenous peoples towards the integration of their perspectives, histories and heritage within the national parks, marine conservation areas and historic sites managed by Parks Canada.
• CTA 79(i) calls for Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
• CTA 79 also calls for the development and renewal of policies relating to cultural resources in cooperation with Indigenous partners (collections, conservation, archaeology, cultural resource management), as well as policies, criteria, and practices related to the National Program of Historical Commemoration.
• Parks Canada is working in partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), Survivors, the arts communities, Indigenous organizations and other federal departments and Agencies to determine the most appropriate way to commemorate the history and legacy of the residential schools system.
• Parks Canada has been working to transform history presentations at its heritage places through its Framework for History and Commemoration, which outlines a new approach that reflects multiple voices, perspectives and values. Budget 2018 funding will accelerate this transformational shift with a focus on integrating Indigenous perspectives and voices at PCA administered heritage places.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office