In December 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its full report. It paints a frank and bleak picture of the historical relationship between European settlers and Aboriginal peoples. It identifies a series of policies that aimed to assimilation. It describes the results of over 200 years of oppression and violence. And it focusses on 94 recommendations for action towards reconciliation.

The Diversity Working Group of the CES Board of Directors has put forward the following resolutions that have been debated and adopted by the Board at its May 4, 2016, meeting. The CES is committed to incorporating reconciliation in its values, principles, and practices.

Whereas, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has released its findings, insights, conclusions and recommendations, on residential schools in Canada,

Whereas, Evidence of the colonial treatment of Aboriginal peoples in Canada is undeniable,

Whereas, The TRC Report defines reconciliation as “an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships”,

Whereas, The TRC Report includes Calls to Action where all Canadians are asked to take part in a reconciliation movement to build and restore the relationship between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal peoples in Canada,

Whereas, The TRC Report recommends monitoring, assessment, and reporting on several aspects of Aboriginal health, welfare, and education as well as progress on reconciliation,

Whereas, Among other roles, evaluators document history, assess progress as well as shape the future,

Whereas, The CES has included attending to issues of diversity and culture as one of its competencies for Canadian evaluators,

Whereas, The CES has adopted the JCSEE evaluation standards as its own and said standards include culture as well as human rights and respect, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the notion of reconciliation be included in the existing CES value of inclusiveness and that the CES make a public statement to that effect,

Resolved, That, as part of its next competency scheme review, the CES include reconciliation explicitly,

Resolved, That the CES strengthen its promotion of and support for culturally responsive evaluation, and

Resolved, That the Diversity Working Group supports the CES in implementing consideration for reconciliation in its activities.