Truth and Reconciliation
Equity Statement
The child welfare sector, including the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CCAS), has a long standing and oppressive history with Indigenous communities rooted in racist and colonial legacies.
We acknowledge the impact of the atrocities and harm of past and present inflicted on these communities.
We remain committed to the 9 Reconciliation Commitments we made as part of the child welfare sector’s 2017 apology to Indigenous families, children, and communities.
We continue to monitor and evaluate our progress on these commitments to ensure improved outcomes and supports for Indigenous children, youth, families, and communities remain at the centre of our work.
CCAS shall provide appropriate services to youth, children, and families that identify as being members of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities throughout all levels of service in our agency, with a specific focus on youth and children in CCAS care. The ongoing discoveries of unmarked graves at residential schools’ sites is a grave example of oppressive, violent erasure of identity and genocide on Indigenous communities. Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CCAS) has committed to ensure we do not further perpetuate this harm by accurately collecting identity-based data to ensure First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth, and families are provided with appropriate racially and culturally affirming services upon contact with our organization.
We strive to work alongside local Indigenous partners as we are committed to learn about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and communities, and honour their rich and vibrant culture.
We must also better understand our role in perpetuating systemic oppression and racism, as we believe this to be critical and fundamental in working towards Truth and Reconciliation.
We are committed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action, which will guide us in providing more culturally appropriate supports and services to Indigenous communities.
While we cannot undo the harm First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth, and families have experienced in the child welfare system, we shall commit to true Allyship, ensuring our apology and Reconciliation Commitments are fully realized.
