Today, Orange Shirt Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, is a painful reminder of the horrific injustices that Indigenous peoples across Canada have experienced – and continue to endure today.
Painful as we mourn the thousands of children were ripped from their families and sent away to residential schools – many never to return, many who were lost forever, and many whose final resting places have only recently been found.
Painful as we honour the survivors of these schools, who were forced to abandon their language and their land, their culture and their ties to their past, burdening survivors and their families with intergenerational trauma.
And painful as we grieve for the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across the country, a persistent and tragic epidemic of loss.
Even today, as we recognize their suffering, we still can not fully grasp the immense loss and tragedy inflicted on the Indigenous peoples of this country.
But recognition is not enough. A day is not enough. One day cannot undo or correct all the injustices of the past. That pain must make way for solutions. Addressing these historic and ongoing injustices is not just a moral obligation; it is a crucial step towards achieving justice and equity for all Canadians.
By rectifying the historical wrongs, improving living conditions, and ensuring equitable access to opportunities for Indigenous peoples, we set a precedent for how we value and respect the rights of all equity-deserving groups. The issues faced by Indigenous communities, including systemic discrimination, lack of access to quality education and healthcare, and the ongoing effects of colonialism, intersect with many challenges experienced by other marginalized communities. Thus, when we make meaningful strides towards justice for Indigenous peoples, we create a blueprint for progress that can be applied to other equity-deserving groups.
In essence, resolving Indigenous injustices becomes a cornerstone of a more inclusive and equitable Canada, where the principles of fairness, respect, and dignity extend to all its citizens, regardless of their background.
We still have a long way to travel on the path to reconciliation, and to truly repair the damage, steps must be taken every day of the year – not just one.
We need to build a stronger public sector that supports Indigenous public sector employees to grow and thrive, and ensures Indigenous Canadians are better served. That is the public sector we need – one that is more reflective of the makeup of our country and delivers for every citizen with understanding, compassion, and a recognition of how our complex past has shaped our future.
Today we grieve and remember. But tomorrow – and every day after – we must put in the work to transform that pain into meaningful progress.
Miigwech.
