The Office of the Treaty Commissioner was pleased to be able to attend the National Gathering on Unmarked Burials: Affirming Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Community Control over Knowledge and Information in Vancouver last week.

There were several people representing Saskatchewan in attendance. The OTC team was pleased to meet Phyllis Webstad, the founder of Orange Shirt Day.

Keynote addresses included "Honouring Children Found in Unmarked Graves: Those That did not Survive Indian Residential Schools” and “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Vision in the Creation of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation."

Much of the information being shared was on the importance of data sovereignty and access to record, including practical information about what records are available and how they can be accessed; as well as information about specific research and archives projects.  Other breakout sessions included Indigenous Law Relating in Information and Knowledge, Indigenous community Perspective: The Power of Data; and the Transfer and Condition of Records: Language and Translation.

Trauma-informed and culturally appropriate health and wellness supports were available and there were others taking statements from survivors if they wanted share. Smudging was available throughout the event.

The next National Gathering is in Toronto, March 27-29, 2023.

Read the Progress Update Report here