CFUW Welland and District have sent the following letter to all our members of parliament, as well as regional and local government to support and acknowledge the on-going trauma of Indigenous people.
We encourage others to express their concern and demand our government to live up to their obligations outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We agree with the words of Assembly of First Nations, National Chief Perry Bellegarde when he said,”Everyone has a role. Every single government and person in Canada can help drive change, to honour our shared history and commit to doing better as a country”.
June 16, 2021
Prime Minister, the Honourable Justin Trudeau Office of the Prime Minister
Ottawa, On
K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister
The very recent discovery of the remains of children from TK’emlups te Secwepemc First Nations and those who attended Kamloops Indian Residential School has caused us to voice our concern with our government officials in all levels of government.
Sadly, the impacts of colonialism are not just part of Canada’s past but are still present today. Indigenous Peoples face systemic racism, are denied basic rights and freedoms, lack clean drinking water and deal with intergenerational trauma.
Our governments and all those involved with this genocide must own up to their actions. The first step in doing this would be to fully implement the 94 Calls to Action in The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, specifically #71-76, Missing Children and Buried Information, which clearly outlines what should be done to honour and protect the cemeteries and unmarked graves of the innocent victims of Residential Schools.
The Government of Canada must implement international human rights standards in Canada by passing Bill C-15, The United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples – Immediately.
The Government of Canada must stop fighting our children in court and Implement The Orders From The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
Provincial and territorial governments must stop apprehending children and work with First Nations to fully implement the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families.
To quote National Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations, “Everyone has a role. Every single government and person in Canada can help drive change, to honour our shared history and commit to doing better as a country.”
We encourage your level of government to press for implementation of all the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in order for us all to move toward reconciliation.
We want to be proud to be Canadian again.
Sincerely,
Kathy Shaw
President
CFUW Welland & District President krshaw@bell.net