This living page will be a repository for resources of all kinds related to Truth and Reconciliation. It is a place to go for research materials, including articles, book suggestions (fiction and non-fiction), short story suggestions, and information on projects and initiatives. Check back often as the contents will change regularly.

Links

PSII’s Nivi Rosing has begun to create series of podcasts about colonization. Much of the subject matters comes from her own experience as an indigenous person from Greenland. Her podcast can be found HERE.

Documents

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – Calls to Action

  • After consultation with Indian Residential School survivors and their families over a number of years, The TRC developed a list of “calls to action” designed to “redress the legacy of residential schools and to advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.” This document was published in 2012.

Sir John A MacDonald quotes about indigenous people

  • Sir John A MacDonald was the architect of the Indian Act, residential schools, and several other key items that defined relations between indigenous and non-indigenous people in Canada from pre-Confederation onward. These quotes from letters, speeches, and orders provide insight into how his Eurocentric thinking shaped these relations. Each quote could lead you on a path of inquiry!

Short Fiction

“Freeing the Pike” – Richard Wagamese

  • This very short story can be viewed in many ways and could be seen as representative of several issues related to truth and reconciliation. As you read it, think of the “60’s scoop”, or residential schools, or what traditional indigenous life might have been like before contact. Powerful symbols embedded in a semi-poetic prose.

Book Recommendations

Each of these books has been recommended by PSII staff. Talk to us if you have questions. Annotated descriptions are being added and the list is always growing. We will organize these titles into categories as the list gets longer. Many of these books are in our library. If you cant find one, let us know and we can probably get a copy.

Monkey Beach – Eden Robinson (fiction)

Embers – Richard Wagamese (creative non-fiction)

Decolonizing Methodologies – Linda Tuhiwai Smith (non-fiction)

Protecting Indigenous Knowledge and Heritage – James Youngblood Henderson (non-fiction)

Indigenomics –