On June 21, CUPE Ontario celebrates National Aboriginal Day in recognition of the cultures and contributions of the original peoples of Turtle Island.
This day is an opportunity to learn about the languages, arts, culinary, music and countless other unique attributes of aboriginal cultures that has helped to shape the Canadian cultural identity.
It is also a day to reflect on the injustices, oppression and significant human rights struggles aboriginal peoples have been forced to fight as a result of a long history of colonialism in Canada. The impact of the residential school system, the persistent violation of treaty rights and the growing list of missing and murdered aboriginal women all contribute to the ongoing legacy of inequality.
On June 2, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada released its findings on the Residential School System which became notorious for physical, psychological, and sexual abuse and neglect. “Residential schooling was always more than simply an educational program: it was an integral part of a conscious policy of cultural genocide,” the TRC’s summary report states. The report also listed 94 recommendations calling for numerous changes to be made across the country.
CUPE Ontario will call on all levels of governments to live up to the words of Justice Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission who said, “We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you a path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing”.
The CUPE Ontario Aboriginal Council has launched a campaign, encouraging members and locals to fill out “Stand up for fairness – Public Inquiry Now” cards. The campaign sends a strong message to Parliament that it’s time to take action for missing and murdered aboriginal women. The Council is continuing its advocacy work on behalf of aboriginal workers both inside CUPE and in communities across the province, including ongoing calls for the release of activist Leonard Peltier.
We also continue to reject the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius – two concepts recognized in international law that assume unoccupied land are unowned, and which have been used by colonizers to justify claiming Native lands.
As a public sector union, we understand the vital importance of quality public services like education and health care in our communities. We will continue our fight to ensure that aboriginal peoples have the same access to quality public services as non-aboriginal peoples.
And so, as we celebrate the vibrancy and great traditions of our First Nations, Métis 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.
