How does Truth and Reconciliation in Canada relate to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals?

Hensley, L. (2015, July 09). [Residential School Classroom]. Retrieved from  http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/residential-school-system-was-cultural-genocide-most-canadians-believe-according-to-poll

"I think all Canadians need to stop and take a look and not look away. Yeah, it's embarrassing, yeah, it's an ugly part of our history. We don't want to know about it. What I want to see from the Commission is to rewrite the history books so that other generations will understand and not go through the same thing that we're going through now, like it never happened" - Daniel Elliot (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, p.13)

Residential Schools were based on the "assumption that European civilization and Christian religions were superior to Aboriginal culture" (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, p.4). The United Nations has created 17 goals to achieve Sustainable Development including "Quality Education" and "Reduced Inequalities" which directly relate to the Truth and Reconciliation process in Canada.

"Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstone of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development"- Kofi Annan. Residential Schools actively worked to suppress aboriginal culture, children were taken away from their families and separated from their siblings at a young age. Children were punished for speaking their native language or voicing their cultural beliefs. One of the United Nations goals is to establish quality education which is defined as "ensure[ing] inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all" (Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform). Canada is working towards reconciliation by acknowledging that Residential Schools violated aboriginal youth and did not provide them a stable place to learn. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada must continue to share stories and educate Canadians about its dark past, to ensure this "cultural genocide"(Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, p.1) never happens again.

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights"- Eleanor Roosevelt. However there are many current and historical events in which individuals have been treated unequally. A goal for obtaining sustainable development set by the United Nations is to "reduce inequalities within and among countries" (Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform). This is a primary focus of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation process. Although we cannot go back in time and fix all the wrongdoings related to Residential Schools, it is important to continue to educate Canadians so we can work towards attaining sustainable development in Canada.

Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future (Rep.).(2015). Retrieved from      
http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Honouring_the_Truth_Reconciling_for_the_Futrue_July23_2015.pdf

Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (n.d) . Retrieved from https;//sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300