Canadian Studies · Grade 10 · Residential Schools & Indigenous Rights · Term 1

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Students study the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, its findings, and the 94 Calls to Action, evaluating how much progress has been made towards implementing them.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Canada since 1982 - Grade 10
• ON: Social, Economic, and Political Context - Grade 10

About This Topic

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, established in 2008 through the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, gathered survivor testimonies at seven national events and private sessions. Its 2015 final report names the residential school system as cultural genocide, detailing lost languages, family separations, and intergenerational trauma. The report includes 94 Calls to Action for governments, churches, and communities to redress these harms through justice, health, education, and child welfare reforms.

Ontario's Grade 10 Canadian Studies curriculum requires students to summarize these findings, evaluate progress on the Calls, and defend education's role in reconciliation. Examples include Call 63, which urges Indigenous content in curricula, and ongoing shortfalls in areas like missing children investigations. This topic connects to broader themes of Canada's social, economic, and political context since 1982, fostering skills in evidence-based analysis and ethical reasoning.

Active learning suits this topic because it personalizes complex histories. Students mapping Call progress on timelines, role-playing stakeholder debates, or analyzing survivor statements in pairs make reconciliation concrete, build empathy, and inspire agency in ongoing national efforts.

Key Questions

1. Summarize the key findings and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
2. Assess the progress made on implementing the 94 Calls to Action.
3. Justify the role of education in advancing reconciliation in Canada.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the historical context and primary findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
• Evaluate the extent of progress made in implementing specific Calls to Action from the TRC final report.
• Critique the role of educational institutions in addressing historical injustices and promoting reconciliation.
• Synthesize information from survivor testimonies and TRC reports to articulate the impacts of residential schools.

Before You Start

Indigenous Peoples in Canada: Pre-Contact and Early Encounters

Why: Students need foundational knowledge of Indigenous cultures and the initial impacts of European colonization to understand the historical roots of the residential school system.

Canadian Confederation and Nation Building

Why: Understanding the formation of Canada and its early policies provides context for the establishment and operation of the Indian Act and residential schools.

Key Vocabulary

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)	A Canadian commission established to inform Canadians about the history and legacy of residential schools and to guide reconciliation efforts.
Calls to Action	The 94 recommendations made by the TRC in its final report, aimed at redressing the legacy of residential schools and advancing reconciliation.
Residential Schools	Government-funded, church-run boarding schools for Indigenous children in Canada, designed to assimilate them into mainstream society.
Cultural Genocide	The deliberate destruction of the cultural elements of a group of people, as stated in the TRC's description of the residential school system.
Reconciliation	The process of establishing respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, based on mutual understanding and recognition of rights.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The Prime Minister's 2008 apology ended the need for reconciliation.

What to Teach Instead

The apology acknowledged past harms but the TRC's 94 Calls to Action outline specific ongoing steps. Small-group timelines mapping events to current progress help students see reconciliation as a process, not a single event, building chronological understanding.

Common Misconception

Most Calls to Action have been fully implemented by now.

What to Teach Instead

As of 2023, fewer than half show substantial progress, with gaps in justice and health. Gallery walks tracking statuses reveal patterns through peer evidence, correcting over-optimism and sharpening evaluation skills.

Common Misconception

TRC findings only affect Indigenous communities, not all Canadians.

What to Teach Instead

Calls target all sectors, including education for everyone. Role-plays with diverse stakeholder perspectives foster shared responsibility, helping students internalize reconciliation as a national commitment.

Active Learning Ideas

Gallery Walk: Calls to Action Progress

Divide class into groups, assign each 8-10 Calls to Action. Groups research status using government reports and post summaries, evidence, and one question on wall charts. Students rotate to read, add sticky-note responses, and vote on priority Calls. Debrief with whole-class priorities list.

50 min·Small Groups

Jigsaw: TRC Key Findings

Form expert groups to study report sections like Legacy or Calls summaries. Experts teach home groups through visuals and quotes. Groups then assess one Call's progress collaboratively and report out. Provide TRC summary sheets for reference.

45 min·Small Groups

Role-Play: Reconciliation Summit

Assign roles like government official, survivor, educator, or youth advocate. Groups prepare positions on three Calls, then debate implementation in a simulated summit. Rotate roles midway and vote on action plans. Use rubrics for preparation and participation.

60 min·Small Groups

Timeline Challenge: Personal Reconciliation Pledge

Individually create timelines of TRC events and personal connections to Calls. Pairs share and refine, then contribute to class mural. End with pledges for school-based actions like language weeks. Supply timeline templates.

40 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Indigenous Relations Advisors in provincial governments analyze the progress of specific Calls to Action, such as Call 63.3 regarding curriculum development, to inform policy and program implementation.
• Journalists reporting on Indigenous affairs, like those at CBC News, investigate ongoing issues related to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, connecting to TRC Calls related to justice and child welfare.
• Educators across Canada are tasked with integrating Indigenous perspectives and histories into their classrooms, directly responding to TRC Call to Action 63, which calls for Indigenous content in curricula.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Choose one Call to Action and identify one specific action taken by a government or organization to implement it. Evaluate the effectiveness of this action.' Facilitate a class discussion where students share their findings and justify their evaluations.

Quick Check

Provide students with a short excerpt from a survivor testimony or a section of the TRC's final report. Ask them to identify the key harm described and connect it to a specific Call to Action. Collect responses to gauge comprehension.

Exit Ticket

On an exit ticket, ask students to write one sentence explaining why education is crucial for reconciliation in Canada, referencing at least one finding or Call to Action from the TRC.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?

The 2015 report concludes that residential schools amounted to cultural genocide, causing language loss, abuse, and family disruption with lasting intergenerational effects. It documents over 4,000 child deaths and systemic failures. These findings ground the 94 Calls to Action, urging comprehensive reforms in child welfare, education, and justice to rebuild relationships.

How can active learning help students understand the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?

Active strategies like jigsaws on report sections, gallery walks on Call progress, and role-plays of stakeholder debates make abstract policies experiential. Students track evidence collaboratively, debate priorities, and create pledges, which deepens empathy, critical analysis, and personal investment in reconciliation over passive reading.

What progress has Canada made on the 94 Calls to Action?

Progress varies: advancements include curriculum changes (Call 63) and some language programs, but shortfalls persist in police targets for Indigenous officers (Call 57) and missing children registries (Call 71). Annual government reports show about 13 fully implemented, with 40 percent underway, highlighting the need for sustained effort.

What role does education play in advancing reconciliation?

Call 63 requires teaching residential school history K-12, while Calls 62-65 emphasize Indigenous control of education and teacher training. Schools foster awareness, counter denialism, and build allyship. Integrating survivor voices and local Indigenous knowledge equips students to contribute to equity and cultural revitalization.