[BCMA] Nov. 2016 Update from the SCCA Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report Response Task Force (TRC-TF)

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Dear members of the Canadian archival community,

Over the summer the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives issued a Call for Expressions of Interest to the Canadian archival community in order to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report Response Task Force (TRC-TF). The response to this call was overwhelming. The realization that across the nation, our community of professionals is ready and willing to meet the TRC’s Call to Action #70 with conviction and dedication is truly inspiring, and on behalf of the SCCA I want to thank each and every one of you who submitted their statement of interest!

I would also like to introduce you to members of our 12 person Task Force:


Title
Name
Organization


Chair
Erica Hernández-Read
Archivist, Northern BC Archives & Special Collections, University of Northern British Columbia

Member
Raymond Frogner
Head of Archives, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Member
Ian Moir
Territorial Archivist, NWT Archives

Member
Melanie Delva
Archivist, Anglican Diocese of New Westminster and Provincial Synod of BC & Yukon

Member
Krista McCracken
Archives Supervisor,  Arthur A. Wishart Library and Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

Member
Marthe Brown
Archivist, Laurentian University

Member
Raegan Swanson
Executive Director, Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives

Member
Marianne Mclean
Principal, Eigg Road Consulting

Member
Emma Wright
Archives Manager, Royal BC Museum and Archives

Member
Nichole Vonk
General Council Archivist, The United Church of Canada Archives

Member
Jennifer Jansen
Records Analyst, Tsawwassen First Nation

Member
Marnie Burnham
Strategic Advisor, Public Services Branch Library and Archives Canada / Government of Canada

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report Response Task Force (TRC-TF) has a tremendous challenge ahead. If you recall, the Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada<http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Honouring_the_Truth_Reconciling_for_the_Future_July_23_2015.pdf> (June 2015) called upon the Canadian archival community “to undertake, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, a national review of archival policies and best practices to:

1)      Determine the level of compliance with both the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Joinet-Orentlicher Principles

2)      Produce a report with recommendations for full implementation of these international mechanisms as a reconciliation framework for Canadian archives.” (p. 258)

As its first step on this journey towards the “action” of reconciliation, the TRC-TF had to develop a Taskforce Project Charter – a document outlining project overview, scope, timelines and resources, organization, and risks, assumptions and constraints. While we are still working out the resources section, the TRC-TF would like to share our recently established Statement of Intent which will lead our work over the course of the next 2 years:

The Task Force mandate is to conduct a review of archival policies and best practices existent across the country and identify potential barriers to reconciliation efforts between the Canadian archival community and Indigenous record keepers. With such a review in hand, the Task Force will then work in collaboration with Indigenous  communities  to create an actionable response to this research which will become the foundation for a reconciliation framework for Canadian archives.

Once our Project Charter is finalized, it will be posted on the SCCA website (currently under development). Input into this document, and all others we post will be most welcomed. We strongly encourage you to take interest in, if not ownership of, this Task Force – we want to work with you as much as we hope to work for you on this national issue.


Regards,
Erica Hernández-Read, Chair
On behalf of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report Response Task Force Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives