Greetings,
September 30 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, introduced this year as a federal statutory holiday in Canada, and recognized by some provincial and territorial governments. The day has historically been commemorated across the country as Orange Shirt Day.
We encourage you and your membership to use this opportunity to reflect on the history of the residential school system and colonization, and their lasting and traumatic impacts on Indigenous peoples in Canada, as well as on our individual and collective responsibility in working toward reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Please find here our National Day for Truth and Reconciliation statement. We encourage you to share the statement when it is posted in our social media channels on September 30.
The statement encourages union members to take action by sending a letter to the Prime Minister and asking him to make reconciliation an urgent priority for the new government.
On September 30 at 1 p.m. (Eastern time), please join us in an online event where we will be texting Canadians from coast to coast to coast and inviting them to take action on reconciliation and send the letter to the Prime Minister. Please note: this event will take place in English only.
Here is the link to register to join.
We look forward to working with you as our movement begins to walk the path toward meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and communities.
In solidarity,
Lily Chang
Secretary-Treasurer