Research and Outcomes at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

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Abstract
Compared to other commissions of inquiry, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (trc) that investigated residential schools in Canada has had a modest research output and influence on public policy. Although the commissioners worked hard to carry out their mandate and raise awareness of the importance of resolving the legacy of residential schooling and promoting reconciliation, their effectiveness was hampered by several factors. Opposition from some interest groups, including the federal government, complicated their efforts, while some of their own characteristics and approaches also contributed to their difficulties. The limitations imposed by the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement that defined their assignment, the heavy reliance on legal talent within the commission, and the sheer size of the task they faced were some of the challenges confronting the trc. Ironically, the emphasis of the commission reports on the centrality of history and the commission’s definition of “reconciliation” might prove to be two of the most enduring elements of the trc’s legacy.

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