I really do think that part of what's critical is measurement of outcomes, but it's the measurement of outcomes that are important to establishing the quality of life of indigenous people, not just metrics that have been established by the Government of Canada or other institutions.
I think about some of those metrics we've heard over time where it talked about the measurement of the number of children in care compared to non-indigenous people; comparative funding for education both on and off reserve; educational and income attainments of indigenous people compared to non-indigenous people; progress in closing gaps between indigenous and non-indigenous communities; health indicators such as infant mortality, suicide, mental health, addictions and life expectancy; and progress on reducing the overrepresentation of people in justice and correctional systems.
I also think about what it really means to indigenous people who are in our communities in terms of what reconciliation means. I think it's about having a high quality of life so that they feel confident, happy and proud of being indigenous. It's where our youth and community members know and practise their culture and they're able to speak their indigenous languages that had been taken away from them.
All of those metrics really transfer into what it means to be a proud and confident indigenous person, and what supports and pieces are in play to ensure that those changes are happening over the generations to reconcile the impacts of residential school and colonization.