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 March 2023.
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 (CSPS) 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 CSPS 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
- organized up to 10 learning events a year since 2019 focusing on themes of Recognition, Respect, Relationships and Reconciliation
- launched multiple online and in-person learning products, including:
- 14 courses
- 15 job aids
- 37 videos
- the podcast 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 CSPS’s learning platform
Visit Indigenous learning products to learn about the courses, job aids, videos and podcast offered by the CSPS.
Recent progress
The CSPS continues to develop resources for public servants to advance Call to Action 57.
In 2021 and 2022, Indigenous Learning partnered with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts to hold 10 events with a total participation of close to 28,000 people. These events focused on a wide range of current and pertinent topics including:
- reconciliation
- cultural safety
- Canadian policies towards Indigenous Peoples and their impacts
- lived experience of First Nations, Inuit and Métis
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
Recently released job aids:
- Understanding Consultation and Engagement in a Time of Reconciliation
- The Reconciliation Path
- Government Policies and the Impacts on Indigenous Peoples in Canada
- First Nations Storytelling
- The Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in Canada: A Historical Timeline
Recently released videos:
- The 10 Principles at Work at Justice Canada
- Our Rights: Indigenous Youth on the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Call to Action 57: A Duty of Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples for all Public Servants
- Video Testimonials: Indigenous Employees
- Territorial Acknowledgement
- Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Indigenous Procurement
- Exploring Identity
- Parks Canada’s Métis Reconciliation Projects: Sharing the Métis Story
- Revitalizing Indigenous Languages
- Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Declaration Act
- The IT Apprenticeship Program for Indigenous People: Overcoming Employment Barriers
- The Indigenous Career Navigator Program
- The United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Explained
- Finding Health Equity for First Nations Children
- National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (partnered event with Prairie Regional Council)
- Celebrating Louis Riel Day: Métis Realities
- The Shared Responsibility of Implementing the Inuit Nunangat Policy
Next steps
The CSPS 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.
Work is ongoing and will continue on:
- decolonizing the language and content of existing courses, such as First Nations in Canada and Cultural Competencies
- collaborating with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to develop a new course on treaties and an online course on the duty to consult and accommodate
- collaborating with the Department of Justice to make available learning products on the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- collaborating with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami on reviewing existing Inuit-related content, co-creating new courses and hosting an annual virtual event
The CSPS service will continue to hold events with partners that are aligned with special days in the calendar and representative of First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
To view upcoming events, visit the CSPS Learning Catalogue.