Professional development and training for public servants
Learn how the Government of Canada is responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 57.
Based on data provided April 2024.
57. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
What's happening?
The Canada School of Public Service (the School) launched the Indigenous Learning Series in 2016 and the Indigenous Learning Business Line was created in 2019 with a mandate to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 57.
The School continues to develop learning products on Indigenous realities such as major historical events, the relationships between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples, treaties and Aboriginal rights, and the diverse perspectives of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Since 2016, the School has:
- conducted internal and external engagement sessions to seek input and work collaboratively with Indigenous communities and academics in addition to public service partners
- established a governance structure to ensure content is truth-based and reflective of Indigenous perspectives: the Circle of Elders and Knowledge Keepers, the Indigenous Learning Sharing Network (external partners) and the Interdepartmental Committee on Indigenous Learning
- launched multiple online and in-person learning products, including:
- 14 courses
- 15 job aids
- 37 videos
- the audio series "Sitting by the Fire"
- released Reconciliation: A Starting Point, a mobile app that is available for both Apple and Android devices and on the School's learning platform
In 2018, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) made it mandatory for all executives to complete a 5-course Indigenous learning series with the Canada School of Public Service. In June 2020, these courses became mandatory for all PHAC staff.
These courses covered:
- introductions to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities
- an introduction to residential schools
- the impacts of colonialism
- the importance of reconciliation
Since 2019, the School has organized up to 10 learning events a year in partnership with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts. These events focus on a wide range of current and pertinent topics including:
- reconciliation
- Canadian policies toward Indigenous Peoples and their impacts
- the lived experience of First Nations, Inuit and Métis
- days of importance such as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Red Dress Day
- the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
- Inuit Nunangat Policy
In 2021 and 2022, the events by the Indigenous Learning business line had close to 28,000 participants.
Consult the Indigenous learning products page to learn about the courses, job aids, videos and podcast offered by the School.
In June 2022, to advance work toward a culturally humble environment promoting culturally safe interactions in the public health system, PHAC developed a formal Indigenous Cultural Competency (ICC) Policy to advance work toward a culturally humble environment that promotes culturally safe interactions in the public health system. The ICC Policy requires all staff to engage in annual Indigenous learning to deepen their knowledge and skills, and implement the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 57.
To support employees, PHAC developed the ICC Learning Road Map (Road Map). The Road Map details specific competencies needed by PHAC employees to meaningfully contribute to Indigenous-related policies, programs, and engagement.
The Road Map has been specifically designed for the needs of PHAC and does not include all aspects of Indigenous cultural competency. It includes information relevant to the Indigenous public health domain, which may not be as useful in other contexts. The Road Map was developed in partnership with Indigenous cultural safety experts, including the:
- Knowledge Centre for Indigenous Inclusion's National Elder’s Advisory Council
- National Collaboration Centre for Indigenous Health
- Canadian Indigenous Nurse’s Association
- University of Ottawa
Recent progress
Since 2018, PHAC has:
- hosted 58 Indigenous learning events, tailored to the PHAC context
- encouraged staff to attend over 900 Indigenous learning events made accessible through the PHAC Indigenous Learning Calendar
- provided over 1000 on demand learning opportunities aligned with the Road Map through the PHAC Indigenous Learning Inventory for staff to develop their ICC and cultural humility in line with the Road Map
The School continues to develop resources for public servants to advance Call to Action 57.
The School continues to advance its work with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to expand the curriculum related to Inuit and the Inuit Nunangat Policy, as part of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee.
The School is also offering 3 new courses for executives to address colonial practices and systemic barriers, Crown-Indigenous relations, policy co-development, and recruitment and retention:
- Building Meaningful Relationships with Indigenous Peoples (includes an immersive cultural experience)
- Reflecting on Canada's Colonial History
- Supporting Indigenous Talent
The School started offering in-person sessions of the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, a half-day session that was paused during the pandemic.
The School produced Video Testimonials: Indigenous Employees. This new video suite amplifies the voices of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis public service employees who talk about their cultures, their challenges, their languages, their dreams, and their perceptions as Indigenous persons and public service employees today. By listening to their stories, public servants can contribute to building bridges of understanding.
The School produced Understanding Indigenous Realities: Revitalization and Reconciliation, a video that:
- addresses the injustices endured by Indigenous Peoples in Canada, including:
- the residential school system
- forced relocations
- the ongoing repression of Indigenous rights
- highlights how courage and determination have catalyzed the reconciliation movement of today
In addition, the School recently produced Roadmap for Managers of Indigenous Employees to provide learning paths and tools to better integrate and value Indigenous employees in government teams. It proposes learning products and resources for the following 4 categories:
- Indigenous realities
- hiring and retention
- inclusive practices
- government commitments
Events for 2022 to 2023 include:
- Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Declaration Act
- International Decade of Indigenous Languages: Gikinoo'amaadiwinan (Learning from Each Other)
- Strengthening Relationships with Indigenous Peoples Through the Consultation and Accommodation Process
- CSPS Virtual Café Series: A Fireside Chat with Dr. Alika Lafontaine
- Inspiring Leadership Through Indigenous Cultural Practices
- Marking the 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- The Shared Responsibility of Implementing the Inuit Nunangat Policy
- Supporting Indigenous Talent
- What You Think You Know About the Métis Is Probably Wrong
- Advancing Reconciliation by Addressing Inequality
- Overcoming Adversity and Reclaiming Power as Indigenous Women
- Relationships, Engagement and Consultation: The Essentials for Reconciliation
- Amplifying Indigenous Voices to Advance Reconciliation
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023: Addressing Residential School Denialism and Embodying Reconciliation
- CSPS Virtual Café Series: A Conversation on Indigenous Health with Dr. Stanley Vollant and Chief Ghislain Picard (Rebroadcast)
- Achieving the Objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- How to Create Meaningful Partnerships with Indigenous Communities
- Indigenous Policy Making in Canada (Rebroadcast)
Events to date for 2024 to 2025 include:
- Discover the Origins and Realities of the Métis Nation
- Being an Ally to Indigenous Peoples
Job aids from 2022 to present include:
- Understanding Consultation and Engagement in a Time of Reconciliation
- Government Policies and the Impacts on Indigenous Peoples in Canada
- Indigenous Languages in Canada and the International Decade of Indigenous Languages;
- Roadmap for Managers of Indigenous Employees
Videos from 2022 to present include:
- Call to Action 57: A Duty of Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples for all Public Servants
- Video Testimonials: Indigenous Employees
- Territorial Acknowledgement
- Revitalizing Indigenous Languages
- Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Declaration Act
- Celebrating Louis Riel Day: Métis Realities
- The Shared Responsibility of Implementing the Inuit Nunangat Policy
- Understanding Indigenous Realities: Revitalization and Reconciliation
To access the full list, visit the School's Indigenous learning products.
Next steps
PHAC plans to continue to implement and develop strategies to:
- encourage uptake of the ICC Policy
- evaluate the cultural humility and safety of the Agency in partnership with Indigenous Peoples
The School will continue to develop tools and resources for public servants as it believes that the implementation of Call to Action 57 is an ongoing process rooted in reconciliation. To achieve this goal, the school will continue to work with Indigenous partners and organizations and other departments and organizations that support the development of adult educational products related to Indigenous realities.
Regarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Declaration Act, and the UN Declaration Act Action Plan, the School has partnered with Justice Canada to create a series of learning products that can be accessed through a new learning portal that will launch in May 2024.
To view upcoming events, visit the School’s Learning catalogue.