More reports and inquiries are not going to fix systemic racism. We know this because there are hundreds of documents written with step by step guides on how to eradicate systemic racism but they are ignored or coopted by governments and institutions. The best example is RCAP.

RCAP was written over 20 years ago. I often reflect on volume 4.4, Persepctives on Youth. I could have sworn Indigenous youth today wrote this volume. The realities and struggles are still the same. The recommendations are similar to what youth need today.

The RCAP report was the quickest shelved report in Canadian history. This shows us how important addressing systemic racism has been to the Canadian gov then and now. We have walked Canadians through their feelings about racism for far too long. I can’t hold your hands anymore.

The title of a section in volume 4.4 is called “The Importance of Listening to Aboriginal Youth”.. the youth that wrote this volume are now in their 40s and Indigenous youth are still silenced and ignored.

The RCAP report also recommended investments into proactive solutions for Indigenous communities instead of reactive measures like police, incarceration, hospitalization, child welfare, etc. In 1996, the cost of these oppressive systems was 7.5 billion.

The RCAP estimated that in 2006 the cost would be $11 billion. I believe this number is actually quite higher and even higher now in 2020. I want Canadians to know that you are investing in racism and oppression, your tax dollars are funding systemic abuse.

When we talk about #DefundPolice, this is what we are talking about. This isn’t a new concept. Y’all have just been fooled for decades while Indigenous and Black thinkers have been creating and researching the solutions to systemic racism for generations.

The RCAP report is 6 volumes and some volumes are over 1000 pages. And I know some of you just want the quick version so here’s a summary in 52 pages: https://iog.ca/docs/1997_April_rcapsum.pdf

If you want to see an Indigenous youth-led report that echoes volume 4.4 of RCAP and looks eerily similar to a report written on Indigenous youth 20 years ago. Here’s the roadmap on trc 66: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599307a5f5e231b361442225/t/5c675b67e79c705013d3a8ae/1550277485617/FINAL+%282%29-+Indigenous+Youth+Voices+-+Roadmap+to+TRC+66+-+Compressed.pdf