Analyzing how the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Fails to Address Colonial

Racialization Through a Postcolonial Lens.

Brittany Long
Tom MacDonald
Dr.Abrams
20146889

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 This paper will explore how postcolonial theory aids in uncovering colonial racialization

and its continuation in the present—analyzing the legacies that have affected indigenous People

and how the current Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has failed to address the issues

that postcolonial theory explores. The current TRC recommendations have adopted

reconciliation as a State-supported process involving schools to help repair and discuss the

broken relationship between Indigenous Peoples and settler Canadians. However, it still fails to

address the racialized systems of knowledge and power that exist in Canada today. Throughout

this paper, I will discuss how postcolonial theory, colonialism, and colonial racialization can

further expand on areas where the TRC is failing Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, I will be

analyzing the places where the current TRC is weak in fully recognizing the past and present

systems that exist and how currently affects Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous Peoples have dealt with many hardships and difficulties since settlers came to

Canada and took their land away. The Canadian government established the Indian residential

school system, which was operated with help from the United Roman Catholic Presbyterian and

Anglican churches. Their primary goal was to provide Indigenous children with religious

training, teach them English or French and help develop skills that would allow them to function

successfully in a settler society (Petoukhov, 2021). Not only did these schools uproot children

from their families, but they also took away their culture and were often subject to physical,

mental, and sexual abuse by the staff of these schools. Many attempts have been made to

compensate for the effects of residential schools, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

(TRC) was one of them. The TRC was established in 2008 as part of a court-mandated

settlement for survivors of a residential school system (Eisenberg, 2018). Despite this effort, the

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current TRC has failed to address the issues such as empire, colonialism, and their legacies. It

has also failed to acknowledge injustice as a thing of the present and not the past.

Postcolonial theory sees the world in terms of empire, colonialism, imperialism, and their

legacies, analyzing how they need to be acknowledged to break down the systems of race and

power to improve the current TRC. Empire and processes such as colonialism and imperialism

have been central to the making of modern societies (Go, 2018). Systems of race and power are

still prevalent in today’s society, affecting how certain groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, are

treated. Go discusses that through postcolonial theory, the world can recognize that social forms,

relations, social knowledge, and culture are typically influenced and shaped by the history and

structures of global hierarchy and power relations (Go, 2018). Analyzing and recognizing how

these factors play into the structures of today's society is essential to acknowledge the work that

still must be done to help reconcile with Indigenous Peoples. Postcolonial theory aids in

understanding ways in which we can improve the current TRC to help properly reconcile with

Indigenous Peoples while acknowledging the present-day forms of colonialism that still exist. Go

claims that postcolonial theory can be helpful for the sociology of race by turning its attention to

the themes of empire, colonialism, and their legacies. Acknowledging and confronting the

systems of race that still affect marginalized groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, will help

improve the TRC further.

When discussing colonialism, it is essential to look at the culture of colonialism and how

this can produce different subjectivities for colonized/colonizers—diving deeper into how race is

acknowledged and becomes the foundation for these relations. Indigenous People were subject to

residential schools because of their race and culture. Indigenous People are often subject to a

settler Canadian "culture" because not many People have knowledge surrounding Indigenous

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Peoples and their culture/language. Indigenous People's culture is not commonly discussed, with

very little recognition. Accepting our past and the mistakes made along the way is the first step

to breaking down these subjectivities for Indigenous Peoples. Canada is still very divided

between Indigenous Peoples and settler Canadians. The government needs to take steps to

dismantle the structures of colonialism that still exist, such as visible displays of settler

colonialism by having statues, plaques, and public displays honouring historical figures.

Beginning to create displays of Indigenous Peoples and places of significance can help bring

recognition to their land while educating People about the past and present injustices.

Colonial racialization is another factor to consider and discuss ways it can be used to help

improve the TRC. It was only through the imperial encounter and systems of colonial power that

race was invented, constructed, and deployed as a tool of power in the first place (Go, 2018). The

manipulation of the race was used to help create a system of power for settlers, allowing them to

create a hierarchy where they were on top. Indigenous Peoples had to follow the policies created

and produced to stay out of trouble. An example of this would be complying by sending their

children to these "school systems". Racialization can be used to help justify policies that are

made for those who do not fit the definition of a settler colonialist. Colonialism racialized,

fragmented, and hierarchized colonized groups such as Indigenous Peoples for the maintenance

of colonial power and dominance (Nnaemeka, 2008). Settlers formulated policies for Indigenous

Peoples that led and allowed them to maintain power through structural racialization. Therefore,

analyzing how colonial racialization took place will allow us to shed light on areas where

Indigenous People are still racialized. Once this is done, we can explore how the TRC has failed

once again to discuss all actions and systems currently present in society today.

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 The current TRC has been operating based on recognition and not fully addressing or

focusing on what postcolonial theory says about colonialism (Eisenberg, 2018). In Coulthard’s

book Red Skin, White Mask, he illustrates how politics of recognition do not take power and

structural inequalities seriously and may have a counterproductive anti-emancipatory effect

(Coburn, 2016). The system built to help reconcile with Indigenous Peoples was mainly about

recognizing the injustices that occurred and acknowledging the harm done. However, this falls

short for Indigenous Peoples because injustice is not only a thing of the past but a thing of the

present. Indigenous Peoples are currently facing power systems and structural inequalities that

affect their day-to-day lives. Actions speak louder than words, and Canada must do more than

recognize the harm done. As there is still harm being done, the TRC fails to highlight this. It is

crucial that settler Canadians take the time to reflect on their position in the injustice, whether

they were alive or not when residential schools occurred. How might they benefit from the

societal structures in place today, recognizing that these same structures affect and perpetuate

marginalized Indigenous Peoples? Instead, the TRC blames the past and is unwilling to take

accountability for the present injustices occurring.

There has been evidence to suggest that many Canadians misunderstand or fail to

acknowledge the history and lasting structures of settler colonialism in Canada (Miles, 2019).

The current TRC recommendations have adopted reconciliation as a State-supported process

involving schools to help repair and discuss the broken relationship between Indigenous Peoples

and settler Canadians. Schools are starting to teach about reconciliation; however, they are

lacking in addressing the current structures of colonialization still in place today. Instead, they

are solely addressing colonial violence and injustice towards Indigenous Peoples as parts of our

past, not acknowledging the current racialized systems that still exist (Miles,2019). Failing to

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discuss and educate students about settler colonialism in Canada is upsetting and frustrating for

Indigenous Peoples. Once again, the TRC does not fully recognize the continuation of

colonialism. This needs to be a priority while also recognizing and discussing the continuation of

colonialism that lies within our current structures, as this will help further reconcile with

Indigenous People. Throughout his paper, Miles makes three insightful challenges that teachers

need to face to help appropriately educate about our past with Indigenous Peoples while acting

on the TRC's recommendations. First, he wants teachers to challenge the settler-colonial state

and acknowledge that injustice is not a thing of the past but of the present while also encouraging

reflection on these injustices.

There is still a high percentage of Indigenous Peoples and reserves that do not have

access to clean drinking water and affordable food and often have little access to healthcare.

Canada is not trying to help accommodate Indigenous Peoples, continuing to invest and support

parts of the country where it may not be needed as much. When it comes to actions, Canada falls

short as, when looked at closer, the TRC aims to change attitudes surrounding Indigenous

Peoples instead of putting effort into fixing the systems. The government lacks the effort to

tackle the more significant problems, such as current systems of race and power. The TRC wants

to help repair the relationship with Indigenous Peoples. However, they only want to put in so

much work, failing to discuss empire, colonialism and the legacies that currently exist in the

country. Along with this, pipelines are being built through the reserves of Indigenous Peoples

showing that we again do not respect them or their land and are willing to do anything for

economic gain.

The TRC fails to recognize the present racialized systems of knowledge and power that

exist in Canada today. However, as mentioned earlier, postcolonial theory analyzes how empire

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and colonialism matter and need to be acknowledged to break down these systems of race and

power to improve the current TRC. In Canada, the systems put in place were meant to benefit

white colonists, creating huge disadvantages for Indigenous Peoples. The TRC lacks to tackle

these racialized systems to help improve the lives of Indigenous Peoples. Postcolonial theory can

help highlight the systems of empire, colonialization and, most importantly, the legacies

affecting Indigenous Peoples, which can help dismantle the current TRC, highlighting its weak

points. These systems can be seen when looking at education, employment and poverty rates for

Indigenous Peoples compared to the rest of the population. Indigenous People always fall short

on these systems because of the lack of funding and accessibility. As well, healthcare outcomes

for Indigenous Peoples are also lower because of access but also treatment. Healthcare staff from

an Alberta Hospital ranked non-indigenous People as more urgent than a First Nation, further

exemplifying one of many racialized systems that still exist today (Yourex-West, 2022). Other

examples include high incarceration rates of Indigenous Peoples and the lack of police

involvement in cases surrounding the missing and murdered Indigenous woman. Therefore, the

TRC needs to make improvements to tackle these systems and improve the experiences of

Indigenous Peoples.

The term reconciliation is still a profoundly problematic term that many do not

understand or agree with. The concept of reconciliation in Canada is contentious, and there is no

agreed-upon framework or definition (Miles, 2019). How can the TRC be successful if many still

do not understand reconciliation or agree with it? Canada lacks a foundation for reconciliation,

making empty promises to Indigenous Peoples, and is not trying to restructure the state. Instead,

they are attempting to change attitudes and beliefs surrounding Indigenous People, which yet

again is not tackling the current structures of colonialism that are in place. The commission’s

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mandate was broad, and it called for a commitment from the ‘People’ of Canada, whether they

were directly involved in the schools, to participate in reconciliation (Eisenberg, 2018).

However, how can one participate in reconciliation if there is not an agreed-upon definition or

framework that should be followed? Canada says it wants to reconcile with Indigenous Peoples.

However, they do not want to put in the work and challenge the systems of race and power that

are prevalent in Canada.

Overall, the TRC falls short of taking steps to reconcile with Indigenous Peoples. The

commission lacks a clear definition of agreed-upon terms, leaving many confused about what

reconciliation truly means. Postcolonial theory, colonialism, and racialized colonialism can aid in

analyzing how the TRC has failed Indigenous Peoples. There is a lack of recognition of the

current systems affecting Indigenous Peoples. The TRC has been failing Indigenous Peoples for

many years, and they deserve more than just recognition of past mistakes, but actions to change

the current systems affecting Indigenous Peoples. In conclusion, the Truth and Reconciliation

Commission needs to make changes, including adding steps to dismantle the racialized systems

that currently exist in Canada. While also acknowledging and discussing present legacies and

ways in which they can also be improved.

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Bibliography:

Coburn, Elaine. 2016. “Coulthard, Glen Sean. Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the

Colonial Politics of Recognition.” Theoria (Pietermaritzburg) 63(148):72–85.

Eisenberg, A. 2018. “The Challenges of Structural Injustice to Reconciliation: Truth and

Reconciliation in Canada.” Ethics & Global Politics 11(1): 22–30. 

Go, Julian. 2018. “Postcolonial Possibilities for the Sociology of Race” Sociology of

Race and Ethnicity 4(4) 439-451.

Miles, James. 2019. "Teaching history for Truth and Reconciliation: the challenges and

opportunities of narrativity, temporality and identity.” McGill Journal of Education 53(2):294-

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Nnaemeka, Obioma. 2008. "Racialization And The Colonial Architecture: Othering And

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Yourex-West, Heather. 2022. "Evidence Of Racism Against Indigenous Patients Is

Growing: Is A Reckoning In Canadian Health Care Overdue? | Globalnews.Ca." Global News.

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