Education Knowledge
Knowledge Transfer + Education
Truth and Reconciliation

Indigenous Watchdog

Indigenous Watchdog is an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that curates information from multiple, credible sources on its website that is comprehensive, transparent and incredibly detailed. The overall intent is to hold all stakeholders accountable for the outcomes identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s 94 Calls to Action.

About Us

“How are stakeholders going to be held accountable?” That was the foundational question Douglas Sinclair had about the TRC Calls to Action that sparked the creation of Indigenous Watchdog (IW). Douglas created a website designed specifically to track and report on what each stakeholder is doing and/or not doing to advance reconciliation. He states that IW doesn’t hold punches, but the site also acknowledges the good work accomplished on the calls to action from coast to coast to coast. 

Douglas updates Indigenous Watchdog daily. He mines a wide variety of sources including news media, reports, white papers, journals, press releases, wire services and government papers.  IW also prides itself on presenting credible, relevant and current information  through a distinctions-based lens, highlighting issues that are unique to Inuit, First Nations, and Metis. In addition, the site monitors all the stakeholders: Federal, provincial and territorial governments and non-governmental institutions. 

There are 30 comprehensive themes that a user can navigate on the website – and Douglas keeps them all current, easy to navigate, and informative. A user can track each of the Calls to Action over time and quickly and easily see what is happening: is the Call to Action In progress, Complete, Stalled or Not Started? Douglas says that the site “empowers users to initiate their own actions to advance reconciliation.” 

One of Indigenous Watchdog’s proudest achievements is the wide variety of organizations who use Indigenous Watchdog: universities, colleges, Boards of Education, Government ministries, business, associations, unions, churches etc. Douglas says IW broadens awareness and opens people’s eyes to what is truly happening in Canada around reconciliation. He hopes that Indigenous Watchdog becomes the number one source for Indigenous-centered information on the TRC Calls to Action. 

Mission + Vision + Values

The mission of Indigenous Watchdog is to deliver relevant quality information on Indigenous issues to educate, inform and ultimately transform the dialogue between Indigenous and non – Indigenous Canadians into ACTION. The main focus is primarily on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.

Ultimately, the main question asked is: “Is Reconciliation advancing or not, and if not – why?

Indigenous Watchdog

Structure

Federally registered non-profit organization

Geographic Region

Coast to Coast to Coast

Keywords

Knowledge transfer, Truth and Reconciliation

How Indigenous Watchdog upholds United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the most comprehensive international human rights instrument to specifically address their economic, social, cultural, political, civil, spiritual and environmental rights. In its own words, the Declaration sets out minimum standards necessary for the “dignity, survival, and well being of Indigenous peoples. (The UN Declaration) The 46 Articles within the Declaration are all interrelated. Indigenous Watchdog addresses them through its unparalleled focus on the 22 themes and 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission - Child Welfare, Education, Health, Justice, UNDRIP etc. - plus another 8 issues that negatively impact Indigenous people.

There are 46 Articles within the Declaration and they are all interrelated. The above list is not exhaustive but makes direct links between UNDRIP and this organization.

similar organizations

Tkaronto (with a cross-canada network)
Bella Bella, offering services to central coast communities (Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Wuikinuxv Village, Klemtu, Denny Island, or Ocean Falls)

Thank you!

Thank you for your generosity and taking the action to donate to one of these amazing organizations.

If you can please take a moment and let us know your donation amount, it would go a long way in helping us weave together our collective story of generosity.

Organization Name:
Indigenous Watchdog