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Our Commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (CTAs)

We have connected local data in this report to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The 17 SDGs are a global measurement of sustainability of communities. The way each SDG relates to the focus areas of the report can be viewed below. Please note that not all 17 SDGs are represented in the report. Instead, we have connected specific SDGs that are relevant to the focus areas. 

The Foundation thanks Dr. Roger A. Petry, Professor of Philosophy at Luther College, for his expertise and oversight of the SDGs and how they are represented within this report. 

You can view more information about SDGs at sdgs.un.org/goals.

We have connected local data in this report to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (CTAs). This is an effort to align the findings of this report to the wellbeing and advancement of the Indigenous communities we serve. 

The Foundation thanks John Bird, Manager of the ta-tawâw Student Centre at the University of Regina, for his insights into the CTAs and how they align within this report. 

You can view the full 94 Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action here. 

Focus Area 1: Supporting Safe and Affordable Housing

What community organizations are saying:

  • Lack of affordable housing is a contributing factor to homelessness.
  • Affordable housing and adequate shelter spaces are needed.
  • Low-income housing options for seniors are a challenge.
  • Lack of available housing for families fleeing domestic violence.
  • Lack of available homes for people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.
  • Limited housing availability for individuals with autism.

Sustainable Development Goals:

End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

  • Target 1.1 – By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
  • Target 1.2 – By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

Reduce inequality within and among countries.

  • Target 10.2 – By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

  • Target 11.1 – By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

  • Target 16.1 – Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
  • Target 16.2 – End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children

Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action:

1. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to commit to reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care by:

  • ii. Providing adequate resources to enable Aboriginal communities and child-welfare organizations to keep Aboriginal families together where it is safe to do so, and to keep children in culturally appropriate environments, regardless of where they reside.

 

2. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with the provinces and territories to prepare and publish annual reports on the number of Aboriginal children (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) who are in care, compared with non-Aboriginal children, as well as the reasons for apprehension, the total spending on preventive and care services by child-welfare agencies, and the effectiveness of various interventions.

  • iii. Establish, as an important priority, a requirement that placements of Aboriginal children into temporary and permanent care be culturally appropriate.

36. We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work with Aboriginal communities to provide culturally relevant services to inmates on issues such as substance abuse, family and domestic violence, and overcoming the experience of having been sexually abused.

38. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to commit to eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in custody over the next decade.

39. We call upon the federal government to develop a national plan to collect and publish data on the criminal victimization of Aboriginal people, including data related to homicide and family violence victimization.

46. We call upon the parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to develop and sign a Covenant of Reconciliation that would identify principles for working collaboratively to advance reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would include, but not be limited to:

55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to:

  • iv. Progress on closing the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.

Focus Area 2: Increasing Food Security

What community organizations are saying:

  • Hungry children and families.
  • Healthy food choices are sacrificed for rent.
  • Unaffordable food.
  • Lack of healthy meals for residents of long-term care homes.

Sustainable Development Goals:

End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

  • Target 1.1 – By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
  • Target 1.2 – By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

  • Target 2.1 – By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
  • Target 2.2 – By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

  • Target 12.3 – By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses

Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action:

19. We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal peoples, to establish measurable goals to identify and close the gaps in health outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, and to publish annual progress reports and assess longterm trends. Such efforts would focus on indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.

46. We call upon the parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to develop and sign a Covenant of Reconciliation that would identify principles for working collaboratively to advance reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would include, but not be limited to:

55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to:

  • iv. Progress on closing the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.

Focus Area 3: Improving Mental Health Services for Substance Use and Suicide Prevention

What community organizations are saying:

  • Lack of mental health support for grief related to suicide loss and substance use.
  • Lack of mental health support for people dealing with trauma.
  • Lack of mental health support for people dealing with addictions.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

  • Target 3.4 – By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
    • 3.4.2 – Suicide mortality rate
  • Target 3.5 – Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
    • 3.5.1 – Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders

Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action:

19. We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal peoples, to establish measurable goals to identify and close the gaps in health outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, and to publish annual progress reports and assess longterm trends. Such efforts would focus on indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.

20. In order to address the jurisdictional disputes concerning Aboriginal people who do not reside on reserves, we call upon the federal government to recognize, respect, and address the distinct health needs of the Métis, Inuit, and off-reserve Aboriginal peoples.

21. We call upon the federal government to provide sustainable funding for existing and new Aboriginal healing centres to address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual harms caused by residential schools, and to ensure that the funding of healing centres in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories is a priority.

35. We call upon the federal government to eliminate barriers to the creation of additional Aboriginal healing lodges within the federal correctional system.

36. We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work with Aboriginal communities to provide culturally relevant services to inmates on issues such as substance abuse, family and domestic violence, and overcoming the experience of having been sexually abused.

46. We call upon the parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to develop and sign a Covenant of Reconciliation that would identify principles for working collaboratively to advance reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would include, but not be limited to:

55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to:

  • iv. Progress on closing the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.

Focus Area 4: Sustaining Community Infrastructure

What community organizations are saying:

  • Outdated water and sewer infrastructure.
  • Water treatment plants requiring upgrades.
  • Buildings in need of maintenance (i.e., old flooring, old doors, old dining hall, etc.).
  • Outdated transportation.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

  • Target 4.7 – By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

  • Target 9.1 – Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
  • Target 9.4 – By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

  • Target 12.2 – By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

  • Target 13.1 – Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
  • Target 13.3 – Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action:

46. We call upon the parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to develop and sign a Covenant of Reconciliation that would identify principles for working collaboratively to advance reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would include, but not be limited to:

Additional Findings: Community Funding Gaps

What community organizations are saying:

  • Funding needed to hire non-profit staff because relying on volunteers is difficult.
  • Funding needed to support newcomer/immigrant/refugee families with children.
  • Funding needed for youth with intellectual disabilities.
  • Funding needed to engage with Indigenous Knowledge Keeper. 
  • Funding needed for new programs (i.e., addiction’s support, pet-friendly shelter spaces).
  • Funding needed for respite care program. 
  • Funding needed for technology for the blind.
  • Funding for educational programs. 
  • Funding needed to support core needs
  • Non-program unrestricted funding is needed.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

  • Target 4.1 – By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes
  • Target 4.2 – By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education
  • Target 4.4 – By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
  • Target 4.a – Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, nonviolent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

  • Target 9.1 – Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
  • Target 9.2 – Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

  • Target 17.16 – Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
  • Target 17.17 – Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships 

Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action:

46. We call upon the parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to develop and sign a Covenant of Reconciliation that would identify principles for working collaboratively to advance reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would include, but not be limited to:

This report was developed by the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation in partnership with the Luther College Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Studies Network and Community Foundations of Canada.