Members of the Board of Trustees and the Senior Leadership Team of The Law Foundation of Ontario recently had the privilege of visiting Fort William First Nation and Thunder Bay, an experience grounded in listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships.
This reading list highlights books that celebrate identity, resilience, community, and healing. While many Indigenous stories hold truths about colonialism and its impacts, they also carry humour, strength, love, and connection to culture and land.
Earlier this year, we spoke with Rachael Hunt on DWF LIVE about healing, intergenerational trauma, and what it means to be a Cycle Breaker. Her teachings grounded us in the understanding that healing is both personal and collective.
Recent findings, following years of investigation by Brett Forester and CBC Indigenous, have confirmed that the RCMP conducted widespread surveillance of Indigenous leaders and organizations in Canada between the late 1960s and early 1980s. For many Indigenous communities, this confirms what had long been shared through lived experience.
In 2026, Canada marks 150 years since the enactment of the Indian Act, a federal law that continues to shape the relationship between First Nations and the Canadian government. This moment is an opportunity to reflect on the history of the Indian Act, its ongoing impacts, and the work that remains.
Each year on April 7, World Health Day raises awareness of global health issues and promotes access to quality healthcare for all. In Canada, this includes recognizing that equitable access to healthcare has not been a reality for Indigenous children, particularly First Nations children living on reserve. Jordan’s Principle exists because of this inequity.
The Independent Assessment Process (IAP) and earlier Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) were compensation processes established under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) for Survivors who experienced abuse in residential schools in Canada. Under a Supreme Court decision, IAP and ADR records are scheduled to be destroyed on September 19, 2027, unless a Survivor chooses otherwise. This timeline is part of a legal ruling to protect privacy and confidentiality.
International Women’s Day 2026 calls for Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls. This theme recognizes that advancing equality requires structural change, sustained advocacy, and leadership rooted in community. Today and every day, we honour Indigenous women throughout the world who are advancing human rights, protecting lands and waters, strengthening communities, and shaping international policy. Their leadership reflects generations of resilience, responsibility, and action.
The Millennial Scoop refers to the ongoing crisis of Indigenous children being disproportionately removed from their families and communities by child welfare systems. This is a continuation of harms seen in the Sixties Scoop era, where Indigenous children were taken and placed in non‑Indigenous care, with devastating effects on identity, culture, and family ties.
Bill 5, officially titled the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, was passed by the Ontario government on June 5, 2025. The legislation makes major changes to 10 provincial laws, including the repeal of the Endangered Species Act, 2007, the Ontario Place Corporation Act, and the creation of a new Special Economic Zones Act.
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Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.
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