Scouting was the program of choice used, alongside Christian religious institutions, to strip First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth of their cultural identities.

Our Apology is not a resolution on its own, it is the beginning of a journey toward healing our hurtful and mistrusting relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. This set a tone for our relationships with anyone who wants to belong to Scouting.

Learn more about our Apology and commitments at Scouts.ca/Reconciliation. 

Following the 2021 announcement that there are over 200 potential unmarked graves of Indigenous children near a former residential school in Kamloops (BC), Scouts Canada’s Board of Governors joined many Canadians in recognizing that reconciliation with Indigenous peoples must be prioritized as a starting point for broader inclusivity. Soon after, we released a new strategic plan which included a pillar dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion, beginning with reconciliation.

The time for improvement is now. In order to be a welcoming organization, where all youth and volunteers feel they belong, we must first recognize and apologize for the wrongs we have done and our ongoing harm; we need to take responsibility for our specific actions against First Nations, Métis and Inuit people before we can begin to move forward and be a truly inclusive place for all. 

For much of the 20^th century, beginning in 1910, over half of our established Scouting members were participating in the program as part of Canada’s residential and day school system. Scouting was used as a tool to support the forceful education of First Nations, Métis and Inuit children into Euro-Canadian culture.

We do not know the full extent of Scouts Canada’s involvement—the number of schools our program was used in, or the number of youth harmed—as the information is not consistently recorded in archives scattered across the federal government, Christian religious institutions and Scouts Canada; however, it is clear from available evidence that Scouting was directly complicit in harm to Indigenous people and cultures, and for that we are deeply sorry.

While Scouting’s involvement in residential and day school programming was known, up until recently we avoided learning more about this chapter of our history. For this, we are deeply sorry and are committed to working towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Although our Apology is decades late, we feel it with utmost sincerity. 

To express Scouts Canada’s remorse and humility in the sincerest way, an in-person gathering allows us to begin apologizing to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, and provides an opportunity for open discussion if they choose.

While our journey to reconciliation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples will begin with four in-person gatherings in Winnipeg, Halifax, Vancouver Island and Ottawa in October, 2023, we hope to continue these connections moving forward.

We recognize that these gathering locations and the attendees are not representative of all Indigenous peoples; each gathering is a unique in our journey. 

Following extensive listening and feedback, our approach has been guided by:

• Historians James Trepanier and Kristine Alexander, and researcher Kevin Woodger
• Indigenous Advisors
• The Rotary Club’s international group, Honouring Indigenous Peoples
• Indigenous and broader members of the Scouting community
• Discussions and learnings from fellow Scout organizations, including Scouts Aotearoa (New Zealand) and UK Scouts
• Reviews of literature on founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, and the history of Scouting
• Review of Scouting public records, Indian and Northern Affairs records (as recovered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and TRC survivor stories.

To learn more about our approach and methodology, watch this video. 

An apology is not a solution on its own; it is the start of a journey and committing to doing better. 

Guided by Future Ancestors Services, Scouts Canada is committed to improving. Where welcomed, we look to support healing and build relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) communities to co-create a way forward, as equal partners in discussion and decision.

Areas we will begin with include:

• Reviewing Scouts Canada property names, and ways that FNMI and Scouting communities can both benefit from our properties.
• Developing programming centered in Indigenous land-based knowledge.
• Co-designing how Scouting is done in local communities, so that it is welcoming and accessible for youth from all walks of life.
• Education and training for staff to better adopt culturally safe practices—being thoughtful and respectful of everyone and ensuring fair access to opportunities.
• Increasing ways for Indigenous communities to benefit from Scouts Canada’s grant giving activities if they choose.
• Creating a culturally safe and inclusive environment, and implementing inclusive hiring practices, to encourage FNMI professionals to join and advance within the organization.
• Changing Scouting customs that use Indigenous symbols and names without permission.
• Inviting youth perspectives to design solutions and contribute to what the future of Scouting will look like.

In the near future, the day-to-day Scouting experience will see some changes, like new program activities and learning resources, and changing the symbols, activities and names that are misrepresenting and appropriating other cultures, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) peoples.

Looking ahead in our journey, we are working towards a shift in our mindset as a Scouting community. Guided by Future Ancestors Services, we look to support healing and build relationships with FNMI communities who are open to it. This means co-creating a way forward, as equal partners in discussion and decision-making.

View our initial actions, here.

Scouts.ca/Reconciliation