OTTAWA
Feb 18, 2020
Statement on Wet'suwet’en Nation and Commitment to Reconciliation
In this time of Reconciliation, the Government of Canada must provide the leadership necessary to uphold its promises of implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) Calls to Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
If Canada’s commitment to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation is to be viewed as genuine and sincere, Canada can no longer take part in the forcible removal of First Nations, Inuit or Métis persons from their traditional, unceded, and reserve lands. The path of Reconciliation demands the full respect of nation to nation dialogue, discussion and resolution.
The arrests that took place in Wet’suwet’en Nation Territory have broken the trust and herald a pivotal moment in the Government of Canada’s recent commitments to reconciliation. From this point forward, how the Government of Canada chooses to proceed will truly define its commitment to honouring Reconciliation.
The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) calls on the Government of Canada to uphold the guiding principles of Truth and Reconciliation. Specifically, the Government of Canada must heed the TRC guiding principle that “Reconciliation requires political will, joint leadership, trust building, accountability, and transparency, as well as a substantial investment of resources.”
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