Calls for Change
The result of more than three years of sustained engagement with the St. John’s urban Indigenous community and dozens of stakeholders and decision-makers, our Calls for Change serve as a roadmap for advancing truth and reconciliation in St. John’s. They also aim to support complementary efforts that are underway in communities across the province.
Our community and stakeholder engagements revealed a consistent desire for our local efforts in St. John’s to align with national and international efforts. For that reason, all of our Calls for Change are directly linked to one or more of the TRC Calls to Action, the MMIWG Calls for Justice, and the principles of UNDRIP.
Our Calls for Change are grouped into four broad Action Areas. Closely related Calls for Change in each Action Area are further subdivided into Focus Areas.
Use the nodes to explore each Call for Change in detail
22
Not Yet Started
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3
Collaborate with post-secondary institutions to ensure that programs in essential areas such as health, law, education, engineering, and public policy incorporate mandatory content on antiracism and the histories and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
-
5
Support and promote the establishment of designated Indigenous seats in essential post-secondary programs such as health, law, education, engineering, and public policy.
-
11
Lead, support, and coordinate research on the demographics of homelessness in St. John’s.
-
12
Ensure that demographic data drives program evaluation and delivery of services to the homeless population in St. John’s.
-
13
Collaborate with service delivery agencies to ensure that Indigenous residents in nonmarket housing have access to culturally appropriate programming and spaces.
-
14
Collaborate with service providers, including those in the private rental market, to ensure that Indigenous people have equal access to secure and affordable housing that is free of discrimination.
-
15
Promote the implementation of a no-discharge-into-homelessness policy by the provincial government.
-
16
Support provincial and national efforts to implement a universal basic income.
-
17
Support efforts to ensure that Indigenous people and members of other racialized and marginalized communities have access to safe, affordable, and reliable transportation throughout the city.
-
18
Promote and support efforts to improve access to safe, stable, nutritious, and affordable food sources for the urban Indigenous community. This includes wild game, country foods, and other culturally significant sources of nutrition.
-
19
Decolonize the City of St. John’s municipal plan and all related processes, procedures, and policies, including the heritage bylaw.
-
20
Work with all levels of government to ensure that National Indigenous Peoples' Day is recognized as an official and statutory holiday.
-
23
Promote and support formal Indigenous stewardship of public green spaces in the City of St. John’s, such as parks and gardens.
-
24
Establish a highly visible monument in the City of St. John’s to honour the survivors of residential schools and those who never made it home to their families.
-
25
Promote and support the availability of Indigenous healing practices and other appropriate cultural programming within the healthcare system.
-
26
Decolonize policies and regulations in early childhood education to ensure access to culturally appropriate programming. This must include expanded access to land-based programming for Indigenous children.
-
27
Promote and support the establishment of full-time, paid Indigenous advisory positions in essential areas such as health, law, education, engineering, and government services.
-
28
Promote and support efforts to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and other colonialist concepts such as terra nullius.
-
30
Ensure that municipal and provincial policymaking is shaped and informed by appropriate demographic data.
-
31
Promote and support urban Indigenous participation on critical governance and advisory boards.
-
33
Work with healthcare providers and community organizations to ensure that urban Indigenous people are able to access services related to mental health, addictions, and recovery free of discrimination.
-
42
Seek a formal apology from the provincial government for the legacy of harm that resulted from the exclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the Terms of Union with Canada in 1949. Such an apology must be drafted in full collaboration with all Indigenous groups in the province, including urban Indigenous people, and should become a foundation for establishing a renewed relationship between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Indigenous Peoples in the province.
0
Projects Proposed
18
Work Underway
-
1
Promote and support the redevelopment of the K-12 curriculum so that it includes appropriate content on Indigenous histories, cultures, stories, and languages as well as a discussion of colonialism and its legacy in the province. This process must be undertaken with the collaboration of all Indigenous groups in the province, including urban Indigenous people.
-
2
Promote and support the addition of appropriate Indigenous content in early childhood education, including cultural practices, stories, languages, and land based activities.
-
4
Promote and support the development of post-secondary courses and degree programs in Indigenous languages.
-
6
Build strategic partnerships to support the development and delivery of sector-specific anti-racism training in essential areas such as health, law, education, engineering, and government services.
-
7
Collaborate with professional licensing bodies in essential areas such as health, law, education, and engineering to establish appropriate requirements that encompass antiracism and the histories and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
-
8
Promote and support the development, implementation, and enforcement of inclusive human-resources policies.
-
9
Create and support a network of businesses and business stakeholders to promote training and the sharing of wise practices in alignment with TRC 92.
-
10
Support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous people into essential industries and professions such as health, law, education, engineering, and government services.
-
21
Work with the City of St. John’s to Indigenize place names.
-
22
Work with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to reclaim Indigenous place names.
-
29
Ensure the full implementation of the City of St. John's commitments under Council’s 2020 Declaration in Support of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
-
32
Promote and support the expansion of interpretation services that are used locally to include Mi’kmaw, Innu-aimun, and Inuktitut.
-
34
Promote and support the full participation of Indigenous businesses, including social enterprises, in government procurement processes at both the municipal and provincial levels.
-
35
Ensure the availability of Indigenous cultural programming within the corrections system.
-
36
Promote and support the implementation of an Indigenous navigator position within the criminal justice and child welfare systems.
-
37
Promote and support the availability and use of restorative justice programs.
-
38
Promote and support the implementation of Gladue reports in sentencing.
-
41
Advocate for the legal recognition of Mi’kmaw, Innu-aimun, and Inuktitut as official languages of Newfoundland and Labrador.
2
Projects Completed
-
39
Advocate for the implementation of stronger civilian oversight of police services, including the creation of a Police Oversight Board that is independent of police, civilian-led, politically neutral, and representative of the province’s diverse communities.
-
40
Advocate for the adoption and full implementation of UNDRIP at all levels of government.
0
Fully Achieved
Measurement Process
To achieve our vision, First Voice commits to engaging Partners, Contributors, and supporters in our planning while regularly tracking progress on each Call for Change to ensure that our priorities and strategies remain relevant and effective. We will participate in existing committees, support existing projects, and amplify the voices of any groups and individuals whose values align with ours and who are similarly calling for systemic change inspired by truth and reconciliation.
Not Yet Started: Opportunities to advance these Calls have not yet been identified. Significant work remains to be done.
Projects Proposed: Opportunities to advance these Calls have been identified. Projects have been proposed to begin work.
Work Underway: Work is in progress to advance these Calls.
Projects Completed: Projects have been completed to advance these Calls. Further work remains to be done to achieve implementation.
Fully Achieved: These Calls have been implemented. No further work is required.
Action Area 1: Education, Training, and Employment
We envision a city where all residents have a sound understanding of the diverse histories and cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador and where they mobilize such understanding to close gaps in education and employment outcomes. To realize this vision, we call on all residents of St. John’s to help advance change in the following ways:
2
Not Yet Started
-
3
Collaborate with post-secondary institutions to ensure that programs in essential areas such as health, law, education, engineering, and public policy incorporate mandatory content on antiracism and the histories and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
-
5
Support and promote the establishment of designated Indigenous seats in essential post-secondary programs such as health, law, education, engineering, and public policy.
0
Projects Proposed
8
Work Underway
-
1
Promote and support the redevelopment of the K-12 curriculum so that it includes appropriate content on Indigenous histories, cultures, stories, and languages as well as a discussion of colonialism and its legacy in the province. This process must be undertaken with the collaboration of all Indigenous groups in the province, including urban Indigenous people.
-
2
Promote and support the addition of appropriate Indigenous content in early childhood education, including cultural practices, stories, languages, and land based activities.
-
4
Promote and support the development of post-secondary courses and degree programs in Indigenous languages.
-
6
Build strategic partnerships to support the development and delivery of sector-specific anti-racism training in essential areas such as health, law, education, engineering, and government services.
-
7
Collaborate with professional licensing bodies in essential areas such as health, law, education, and engineering to establish appropriate requirements that encompass antiracism and the histories and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
-
8
Promote and support the development, implementation, and enforcement of inclusive human-resources policies.
-
9
Create and support a network of businesses and business stakeholders to promote training and the sharing of wise practices in alignment with TRC 92.
-
10
Support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous people into essential industries and professions such as health, law, education, engineering, and government services.
0
Projects Completed
0
Fully Achieved
Focus Area A: Curriculum Development and Deployment
Focus Area B: Professional Training and Development
Focus Area C: Employment Equity
Action Area 2: Housing and Homelessness
We envision a city where all members of the urban Indigenous communities enjoy access to safe, secure, and affordable housing. To realize this vision, we call on all residents of St. John’s to help advance change in the following ways:
8
Not Yet Started
-
11
Lead, support, and coordinate research on the demographics of homelessness in St. John’s.
-
12
Ensure that demographic data drives program evaluation and delivery of services to the homeless population in St. John’s.
-
13
Collaborate with service delivery agencies to ensure that Indigenous residents in nonmarket housing have access to culturally appropriate programming and spaces.
-
14
Collaborate with service providers, including those in the private rental market, to ensure that Indigenous people have equal access to secure and affordable housing that is free of discrimination.
-
15
Promote the implementation of a no-discharge-into-homelessness policy by the provincial government.
-
16
Support provincial and national efforts to implement a universal basic income.
-
17
Support efforts to ensure that Indigenous people and members of other racialized and marginalized communities have access to safe, affordable, and reliable transportation throughout the city.
-
18
Promote and support efforts to improve access to safe, stable, nutritious, and affordable food sources for the urban Indigenous community. This includes wild game, country foods, and other culturally significant sources of nutrition.
0
Projects Proposed
0
Work Underway
0
Projects Completed
0
Fully Achieved
Focus Area A: Service and Program Development
Focus Area B: Poverty Reduction
Action Area 3: Infrastructure and Service Delivery
We envision a city that reflects the histories and cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador and one where members of the urban Indigenous community are able to access essential services free of discrimination. To realize this vision, we call on all residents of St. John’s to help advance change in the following ways:
11
Not Yet Started
-
19
Decolonize the City of St. John’s municipal plan and all related processes, procedures, and policies, including the heritage bylaw.
-
20
Work with all levels of government to ensure that National Indigenous Peoples' Day is recognized as an official and statutory holiday.
-
23
Promote and support formal Indigenous stewardship of public green spaces in the City of St. John’s, such as parks and gardens.
-
24
Establish a highly visible monument in the City of St. John’s to honour the survivors of residential schools and those who never made it home to their families.
-
25
Promote and support the availability of Indigenous healing practices and other appropriate cultural programming within the healthcare system.
-
26
Decolonize policies and regulations in early childhood education to ensure access to culturally appropriate programming. This must include expanded access to land-based programming for Indigenous children.
-
27
Promote and support the establishment of full-time, paid Indigenous advisory positions in essential areas such as health, law, education, engineering, and government services.
-
28
Promote and support efforts to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and other colonialist concepts such as terra nullius.
-
30
Ensure that municipal and provincial policymaking is shaped and informed by appropriate demographic data.
-
31
Promote and support urban Indigenous participation on critical governance and advisory boards.
-
33
Work with healthcare providers and community organizations to ensure that urban Indigenous people are able to access services related to mental health, addictions, and recovery free of discrimination.
0
Projects Proposed
5
Work Underway
-
21
Work with the City of St. John’s to Indigenize place names.
-
22
Work with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to reclaim Indigenous place names.
-
29
Ensure the full implementation of the City of St. John's commitments under Council’s 2020 Declaration in Support of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
-
32
Promote and support the expansion of interpretation services that are used locally to include Mi’kmaw, Innu-aimun, and Inuktitut.
-
34
Promote and support the full participation of Indigenous businesses, including social enterprises, in government procurement processes at both the municipal and provincial levels.
0
Projects Completed
0
Fully Achieved
Focus Area A: Expanding Cultural Spaces
Focus Area B: Systemic Discrimination
Action Area 4: Justice and Human Rights
We envision a city and a province where urban Indigenous people enjoy equal protection of the law and equal access to justice. To realize this vision, First Voice calls on all residents of St. John’s to help advance change in the following ways:
1
Not Yet Started
-
42
Seek a formal apology from the provincial government for the legacy of harm that resulted from the exclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the Terms of Union with Canada in 1949. Such an apology must be drafted in full collaboration with all Indigenous groups in the province, including urban Indigenous people, and should become a foundation for establishing a renewed relationship between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Indigenous Peoples in the province.
0
Projects Proposed
5
Work Underway
-
35
Ensure the availability of Indigenous cultural programming within the corrections system.
-
36
Promote and support the implementation of an Indigenous navigator position within the criminal justice and child welfare systems.
-
37
Promote and support the availability and use of restorative justice programs.
-
38
Promote and support the implementation of Gladue reports in sentencing.
-
41
Advocate for the legal recognition of Mi’kmaw, Innu-aimun, and Inuktitut as official languages of Newfoundland and Labrador.
2
Projects Completed
-
39
Advocate for the implementation of stronger civilian oversight of police services, including the creation of a Police Oversight Board that is independent of police, civilian-led, politically neutral, and representative of the province’s diverse communities.
-
40
Advocate for the adoption and full implementation of UNDRIP at all levels of government.
0