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Since 1996, Canadians have marked National Aboriginal Day on June 21.
National Aboriginal Day is a time to celebrate the cultures and contributions of our First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario is proud to support this important annual celebration. In some cases, our members not only attend the events but are instrumental in organizing them.
While June 21 is set aside for celebration, it is also a day to remember that governments continue to neglect the deplorable conditions faced by First Peoples and have failed to provide basic necessities such as safe water, health care and economic sustainability.
The inability of governments to recognize that these necessities are fundamental rights of citizenship is one reason that CUPE Ontario uses National Aboriginal Day to express solidarity with aboriginal peoples and support all efforts to improve their livelihood. Beyond simply wages, benefits and working conditions for the union’s aboriginal members, CUPE Ontario is also dedicated to advocating for First Peoples’ rights in the larger community. Education is one of the most important ways of doing this.
CUPE Ontario is firmly committed to furthering First Peoples’ rights and the ongoing work of the CUPE Ontario Aboriginal Council is a testimony to that commitment. CUPE’s Ontario was also the first provincial wing of the union to create a constitutionally mandated diversity vice president representing aboriginal members on the executive board. That position is currently held by sister Joanne Webb.
The Aboriginal Council of CUPE Ontario has continued to outreach to Aboriginal communities through the attendance at Pow Wows and Aboriginal Day celebrations, as well as working collaboratively with many initiatives that seek to deal with the many challenges that Aboriginal communities are facing, such as:
– The fight to stop the dump at Site 41 in Tiny Township -the continued support of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee of Canada -supporting Motion 571 (Shannen’s Dream) – that declares that all First Nations children must have an equal right to high quality culturally-relevant education -supporting the Council of Canadians Great Lakes Campaign to oppose the shipment of radioactive waste through the Great Lakes
And so, as we celebrate the vibrancy and great traditions of our First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples on National Aboriginal Day, CUPE Ontario reaffirms its commitment to fight for equality, justice, full inclusion and the right to self-government for all aboriginal peoples.
