To mark a decade of action and reaffirm its continued commitment to Indigenous peoples’ human rights, the OHRC is highlighting initiatives undertaken since 2015 to support reconciliation.
2025
- Policy statement, context guide, and FAQ on Indigenous-specific hiring
- Guide and fact sheets (one for rights-holders, one for duty-holders) on anti-Indigenous discrimination in retail settings
Related Call to Action: 92
2024
- Launch of anti-Indigenous discrimination in healthcare project
- Appendix to the Human Rights-Based Approach to Policy and Program Development addressing discriminatory displays of names, words and images
Related Calls to Action: 18, 19, 20, 22, 90(iv), 92
2023
- Human Rights First: A plan for belonging in Ontario – OHRC Strategic Plan for 2023-25
- Statement on unmarked graves found at former Ontario residential school site(s)
- Statement calling for accountability and timely action to address systemic discrimination against Indigenous people in policing
- Renewal of the partnership agreement between the OHRC and the OFIFC
- Submission to the legislated review of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act
Related Calls to Action: 1, 5, 30, 31, 36, 38, 42, 71, 75, 76
2022
- Submission to the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination commenting on Canada’s upcoming 24th and 25th reports
- Submissions on Ontario’s More Homes Built Faster Act.
Related Calls to Action: 1, 30, 31, 36, 38, 40, 41, 90(iv)
2021
- Letter to Aboriginal Legal Services supporting the open letter: Adding the fight against racism to the Canada Health Act: the time is now
- Statement on unmarked graves found at former Saskatchewan residential school site
- Second letter to municipalities on the harmful impact of Indigenous-themed sports logos
- Framework for change to address systemic racism in policing
- Engagement on proposed content for an OHRC policy on the discriminatory display of names, words and images
Related Calls to Action: 18, 19, 20, 22, 30, 31, 40, 71, 75, 76, 90(iv), 92
2020
- Filing of an application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario related to the deaths of Joey Knapaysweet and Agnes Sutherland
- Letter to the Ministry of Health regarding the potential human rights issues in the Ministry’s COVID-19 response
- Letter to the special advisor of the Ontario Health Data Platform about data collection, including the collection of Indigenous ancestry data
- Letter to Kenora Mayor and City Council about the anti-loitering by-law being considered
- Statement on hate, including anti-Indigenous racism
- Opinion Editorial on nationalnewswatch.com: Why it’s dangerous to be disabled and Indigenous in Canada
- Work to address anti-Indigenous racism in lacrosse
Related Calls to Action: 18, 19, 20, 22, 40, 90(iv)
2019
- Statement on Adam Capay’s case and the inhumane practice of segregation
- Letter to municipalities on the harmful impact of Indigenous-themed sports logos
- Statement on taking action to respond to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice
- Report and recommendations on homelessness in Kenora
- Submission to the Ministry of the Solicitor General on the proposed amendments to the segregation provisions in Regulation 778 under the Ministry of Correctional Services Act
- Letter to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services on the Child Welfare System Consultation
- Announcement of a new Indigenous Reconciliation Advisory Group
Related Calls to Action: 1, 30, 31, 38, 41, 90(iv)
2018
- Public inquiry report: Interrupted childhoods: Over-representation of Indigenous and Black children in Ontario child welfare
- Dialogue report: To dream together: Indigenous peoples and human rights dialogue report
- Settlement addressing the harmful impact of stereotypes in Indigenous-themed mascots, symbols, names and imagery on Indigenous youth
Related Calls to Action: 1, 38, 42, 43, 47, 90(iv)
2017
- Putting People and Their Rights at the Center: Building Human Rights Accountability – OHRC Strategic Plan for 2017-22
- Letters to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and to the Mayor of Kenora regarding findings from a tour of Kenora Jail
- Letter to the Mayor of Sioux Lookout regarding Indigenous reconciliation
- Coalition statement calling for action on Justice Tulloch’s police oversight recommendations
- Submission regarding Bill 89, Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act, 2017
- Chapter from Under suspicion: Research and consultation report on racial profiling in Ontario summarizing issues raised by Indigenous peoples
- Signing of an agreement between the OHRC and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)
- Letter to the Ministry of Education regarding the implementation of recommendations on First Nations Special Education
Related Calls to Action: 1, 30, 31, 34, 36, 38
2016
- Letter to Children’s Aid Societies in Ontario requesting disaggregated data regarding children and youth in Ontario’s child welfare system
- Submission, supplementary submission, statement, and letter regarding the use of segregation within provincial jails and its disproportionate use with certain racialized groups such as Black and Indigenous prisoners
- Statement for National Aboriginal Day
- Letter to offer assistance to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- Letter to the Thunder Bay Police Service and Thunder Bay Police Services Board regarding systemic discrimination and racism
Related Calls to Action: 1, 30, 31, 36, 38, 41, 43
2015
- Response to the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report
- Letter and Addendum to Premier Wynne regarding Murdered and Missing Indigenous women
- Chapter on Indigenous spiritual practices within the Policy on preventing discrimination based on creed
Related Calls to Action: 22, 36, 41
In addition to these activities, the OHRC recognizes the disproportionate impact of racial discrimination on Indigenous people throughout its publications – including those related to policing, health, housing, hate, and the use of artificial intelligence technologies. Further information can be found on the “Race and related grounds” page of the OHRC website.