The movement quickly gained supporters in Canada and around the world. 

"Keys, centre, greets Indigenous rights activists Melanie Morrison, left, and Melissa Mollen Dupuis prior to receiving an Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International on Saturday (Photo: Graham Hughes/CP)"

 

Canada has come a long way with gestures of reconciliation with Indigenous people and we have to ensure that the momentum continues.

In fact, Idle No More, one of the largest Indigenous movements in Canadian history, and Wab Kinew, activist and newly elected leader of Manitoba’s NDP party, have done an excellent job of raising awareness.  Despite their efforts, we still have a long way to go as the relationship between aboriginal and non-aboriginals is still far from being a mutually respectful one.  

As Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip said, “We leave behind the first 150 years, the ones with one big problem — trying to wipe out our Indigenous people, to take their minds and hearts, to give them the choice, ‘become white or get lost.'”

Essentially, Canadians must recognize and support Aboriginal people as they come to terms with and heal from the past. For example, Canada’s historical policies of cultural genocide and assimilation have left deep scars in the lives of many Aboriginals.  In reality, few Canadians are aware of this or know little about the history of Aboriginal people and their contributions to Canada.  Consequently, this lack of knowledge reinforces racist attitudes and fuels distrust between Indigenous peoples and other Canadians.  With this in mind, Canadians must look to and learn from the past, in order to build a respectful and healthy relationship in the future.

To summarize, although some progress has been made, the urgent need for genuine reconciliation still runs deep within Canada and without truth, justice, and healing, there can never be genuine reconciliation.  

 

Wab Kinew advocates reconciliation through equality, mutual respect, trust and benefit.

Canada has come a long way with gestures of reconciliation, but there is still a need and a sense of urgency to build a new relationship between natives and non-natives based on mutual respect and benefit.

In fact, Wab Kinew and Idle No More, one of the largest Indigenous movements in Canadian history, have done an excellent job of raising awareness.  However, this 500-year-old relationship is still far from being balanced, harmonious and mutually respectful.

In an interview with George Stroumboulopoulos, Wab Kinew said it perfectly:  “This messy relationship has been going on for 500 years – and it’s time to fix it!”

In reality, Canada has come a long way in acknowledging its part in the cultural genocide and assimilation of Indigenous people.  However, Wab Kinew is pushing for a solution using a completely different approach and perspective.  In fact, he believes that Canadians must look to and learn from the past, in order to build a respectful and healthy relationship in the future.

To summarize, although some progress has been made, the urgent need for a new relationship still runs deep within Canada and without truth, justice, and healing, there can never be genuine reconciliation.