The Federal Election: An Opportunity for Reconciliation

tansi ninôtemik,

In a recent discussion published by Alberta Native News, the founder of Rise Consulting, Annie Korver, shared the sentiment that reconciliation must be seen as a relationship built on accountability, trust, and ongoing dialogue.[1] According to Korver, true and meaningful reconciliation efforts must empower Indigenous voices to guide the conversation at hand, not just be tokenized for the benefit of the government.[2] 

In a previous post, we critiqued the Trump administration’s intentional removal of the Not Invisible Act Commission’s final report.[3] Specifically, we discussed how archiving the report from public platforms was an intentional ploy to silence and further disempower Indigenous communities by removing access to essential data on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples.[4] This is a clear example of the disconnect between what governments publicize regarding their positive efforts to helping Indigenous communities, and the actions they actually take. Even when colonial governments publicly advocate for and invest in Indigenous rights, such as the commission of the Not Invisible Act’s final report, they may still engage in practices that still silence Indigenous voices, further undermining reconciliation efforts.[5]

This dissonance is significant because Canadian politics do not exist in isolation. They are inevitably influenced by cross-border dynamics. As Canada gears towards our next federal election in the search for a new prime minister, we must consider the weight of perspectives like Korver’s and question whether promises made of efforts towards reconciliation are rooted in Indigenous self-sovereignty. It is unlikely that many Americans anticipated the Trump administration’s to silently censor public media on Indigenous legal issues, yet they did. This should serve as a wake-up call for us to approach the upcoming election with urgency in advocating for policies that secure Indigenous self-determination and safeguard cultural narratives. 

Looking forward towards genuine reconciliation, consider the concept of “kinship-visiting” as explained by Anna Corrigal Flaminio.[6] Kinship-visiting is a relationship-focused approach that uses traditional protocols of shared dialogue and visiting to resolve legal issues and renew relationships.[7] This model of resolving legal issues is rooted deeply in Indigenous laws, especially those of Cree, Métis, and Anishinaabe communities, emphasizing the values of wahkotowin and miyo-wicihtowin.[8]

So, how can the federal Canadian government apply these insights to support reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination as we approach a new election cycle? 

1. Through funding and policy for Indigenous law institutes. By partnering with Indigenous organizations, culturally safe spaces can be developed as hubs for legal education that focuses on Indigenous voices.[9] 

2. By embedding traditional legal principles in federal policy. Policymakers should incorporate core legal principles into legislation. Importantly, there must be emphasis placed on tailoring legislation based on the unique cultural principles and legal traditions of individual Indigenous communities. We must avoid a pan-Indigenous approach and empower all Indigenous communities to govern their own data, narratives and dispute resolution processes.[10]

As we head into the upcoming election, we must remember that the harmful practices towards Indigenous media censorship occurring beyond the border are not located in a vacuum. International political climate inadvertently influences Canadian politics. The upcoming election is our opportunity to ensure that reconciliation efforts are truly rooted in accountability, actionable change, and trust from the federal government. 

ekosi and until next time, 

The ReconciliACTION Team

Citations

[1] Laura Mushumanski, “Annie Korver Discusses Reconciliation as Relationship” (1 April 2025), online: <albertanativenews.com> [perma.cc/6NRS-R89Q].

[2] Ibid.

[3] Adria Walker, “‘A slap in the face’: activists reel as Trump administration removes crucial missing Indigenous peoples report” (20 March 2025), online: <theguardian.com> [perma.cc/ZLG9-63QM]; ReconciliACTION YEG, “The Trump Administration’s Sneaky Ploys at Disempowering Indigenous Voices” (24 March 2025) online: <reconciliactionyeg.ca> [perma.cc/H666-P3PN].

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Anna Corrigal Flaminio, “Kinship-visiting: Urban Deliberative Space” in Karen Drake & Brenda Gunn, eds, Renewing Relationships: Indigenous peoples and Canada (Saskatchewan: Wiyasiwewin Mikiwahp Native Law Centre, 2019) 143–167 [Kinship Visiting].

[7] Ibid at 143–150.

[8] Kinship Visiting supra note 6; Aseniwuche Winewak Nation, "wahkôtowin" (last visited 28 March 2025), online: <aseniwuche.ca> [perma.cc/UP2G-73RM] [Wahkôtowin]; Aseniwuche Winewak Nation, “miyo-wîcêhtowin” (last visited 28 March 2025), online (pdf): <aseniwuche.ca> [perma.cc/7PXB-96KA] [Miyo-wîcêhtowin].

[9] Hadley Friedland, Accessing Justice and Reconciliation: Cree Legal Traditions Report (Victoria: University of Victoria, 2014), online: <ilru.ca> [perma.cc/R88H-7A57] [AJR].

[10] Ibid at 6–9.

[Image] Council of Canadians. “2025 Canadian Federal Election” (25 March 2025), online: <canadians.org> [perma.cc/5K4X-QPMY].