215. This is a number every single person in what we call Canada must reckon with. This is what Canada was built on – on the foundation of the separation of Indigenous children from their families, of their abuse, of their deaths due to neglect and violence. 215 Indigenous children’s remains found in Tk’emlúps te…
CUPE Ontario and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) recommit to connecting the dots between all workers’ struggles. Our solidarity for Indigenous Land Defenders at 1492 Land Back Lane from Six Nations and our solidarity for migrant workers are interwoven. We support Land Defenders asserting their right to their traditional territory because we recognize the…
Over the last month, we’ve watched the acts of racist, anti-Indigenous violence in Nova Scotia in horror and with growing concern. We’ve heard the stories and seen the images of Mi’kmaq fishers who’ve been assaulted, threatened, had their traps removed, and have had a vehicle burned down. It’s disgraceful and all of us, everywhere, must…
CUPE Ontario sends its solidarity to Indigenous Land Defenders at 1492 Land Back Lane from Six Nations who are reclaiming land along the Haldimand Tract, south of Caledonia. Six Nations was given the land after their alliance with the British during the American Revolution, but the land was sold to developers, McKenzie Meadows, where they…
September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, which is dedicated to raising awareness about the residential school system and its traumatic, inter-generational impact on Indigenous peoples in Canada. On this day we reflect on the legacy of residential schools, which were the centrepiece of a policy of cultural genocide against Indigenous peoples instituted by the Canadian…
June is Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous communities. This month also marks the 24th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day, held annually on June 21st. This month we recognize the contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We honour their strength and courage in the face…
While the world and our communities are, understandably, prioritizing the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is another global crisis that we can’t forget: the climate crisis. Even as we are fighting this pandemic, let us also remember there is a lot of work needed to fight climate change, and to move our economy towards a greener, truly sustainable…
Access to safe drinking water is a right many of us take for granted. But contaminated water and a lack of adequate sanitation in Ontario’s First Nations communities jeopardize the health and well-being of thousands of indigenous people. 62 First Nations communities across the province are currently on boil water or do not consume advisories. CUPE…
Statement adopted by the CUPE Ontario Executive Board March 4, 2020 CUPE Ontario is deeply concerned about the recent rise of hate directed at Indigenous people, in particular the land defenders of the Tyendinaga Mohawks, following widespread support from community and working-class activists for Wet’suwet’en land rights. CUPE Ontario calls on levels of governments to:…
CUPE Ontario continues to extend its solidarity to the Wet’suwet’en Nation, echoing the message shared by others across the country and within this province that we must finally take reconciliation seriously. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, together, remind us that we must…
