Will King Charles make it right with Indigenous communities in Canada in 2024? | CityNews Calgary
This 12 months noticed the coronation of a brand new King. As our new head of state, King Charles has a chance to start righting among the wrongs dedicated to Indigenous communities in Canada. But as we enter 2024, the query nonetheless stays: will he?
“We must find new ways to come to terms with the darker and more difficult aspects of the past, acknowledging, reconciling and striving to do better,” mentioned the British monarch throughout a 2022 go to to Canada.
He mirrored brazenly about reconciliation, simply months earlier than he ascended to the throne, however the phrases “I’m sorry” had been by no means spoken.
“Apologies only go so far. And for me, it’s him physically coming to each community, seeing the harms done, and acknowledging that, you know, he and his family and the monarchy have the means to fix a lot of injustices on our communities,” mentioned Dr. Paulina Johnson, a citizen of Samson Cree Nation in central Alberta, which is Treaty 6 territory.
She has hassle believing Charles’ statements about fact and reconciliation. Instead, an ungainly second from a earlier royal go to stays etched in her thoughts.
I simply couldn’t purchase it. And the rationale why I couldn’t purchase it’s I all the time suppose again to how Charles and Camilla had type of giggled when Throat Singers had been exhibiting their tradition and practices [in 2017],” mentioned Dr. Johnson. “And I think that’s telling, because it kind of indicated to me that it wasn’t authentic.”
Crystal Harrison Collin has giant following on TikTok, the place she shares her tradition as an Anishinaabe lady dwelling in Sioux Lookout, Ontario — which is roofed by Treaty 3.
“It allows me to have my own voice and my own opinions and a platform to speak on subjects as colonialism and Indian residential schools,” mentioned Harrison Collin.
“It was the residential school the severed everything and caused great damage”
Harrison Collin’s father is a survivor of Canada’s residential faculty system. As Charles enters his first full 12 months on the throne, she’s ready for a concrete apology.
“We need to make reparations for Indian residential schools to apologize on behalf of the monarchy for their part in that system, for upholding colonialism, to give our land back,” mentioned Collin.
It’s nonetheless not clear whether or not Charles will enterprise down that street in 2024 — upholding treaty guarantees or revoking the doctrine of discovery, as many have known as for.
“I do carry doubt. I have doubt, but I can remain hopeful. If not with King Charles, then perhaps his son, William.”
“It’s my hope that, you know, the monarchy can acknowledge or would acknowledge their role in in our health and well-being. But will they? Probably not,” mentioned Johnson.
