Ms. Liane Roy, President of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada, an organization representing Canada’s French-speaking minority communities, made the following statement to mark National Truth and Reconciliation Day:

“A decade has passed since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded its work in 2015. Since then, there have been many discussions about what it means to commit to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, particularly with regard to the Commission’s calls to action.

In our view, the first step of such a commitment is to acknowledge our responsibility, as Francophone minority communities, to contribute to reconciliation. The second is to recognize that reconciliation is always a work in progress: in other words, the steps we have already taken call for further action, and we must never assume that what we have done in the past is enough. Thirdly, showing authenticity, sincerity, and intention in our actions speaks as loudly as these actions themselves. September 30 is not, and must never become, a day of meaningless rituals.

Today on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the FCFA will attend the national ceremony Remembering the Children: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, organized by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), CBC/Radio-Canada, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Our organization is also launching an asynchronous training course, Reciprocity and Respect: Building Bridges between Indigenous Peoples and French-speaking Immigrants, intended for Francophone immigration workers.

On this September 30, let us remain mindful of the emotional significance of this day for many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. It is a day that brings painful memories, especially for survivors of residential schools. Let us act with compassion and kindness. »