Reconciliation
Middle School
Definition
The ongoing process of repairing the relationship between Indigenous peoples and other Canadians, addressing past harms such as residential schools, and working toward justice, respect, and healing.
Worked examples
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008-2015) gathered survivor testimonies and issued 94 Calls to Action to guide healing and reform.
A concrete national effort to document residential school harms and create a roadmap for reconciliation.
Schools teaching Indigenous history and languages as part of the curriculum, honoring Treaties, and involving Elders in learning.
Everyday reconciliation actions that build understanding and respect in Canadian communities.
Common mistakes
- Reconciliation is a finished event that happened when the government apologized. → Reconciliation is an ongoing process requiring sustained action, not a single moment. Apologies are important steps, but reconciliation demands continuous commitment to justice and relationship-building.
- Reconciliation only involves Indigenous peoples making changes or 'moving on.' → Reconciliation requires all Canadians to learn, act, and address systemic inequities together. It is a two-way process; non-Indigenous Canadians must acknowledge harms and work toward systemic change.
- Reconciliation is only about the past and has nothing to do with today. → Reconciliation addresses past harms and their ongoing impacts on Indigenous communities today. Legacy issues like poverty, health gaps, and land rights are current, not historical.
Where you'll use it next
You'll explore reconciliation when studying Canadian law and policy, Indigenous rights and Treaty education, contemporary social justice movements, and ethical citizenship in a diverse democracy.
See also
Treaties and PoliciesIndigenous GovernancePre-Contact CulturesDecolonizationHuman Rights FrameworksEquity and Fairness
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026