24 June 2021
There cannot be an apology without action. Words are not enough.
For approximately 150 years, over 150,000 Indigenous children were sent to 139 residential schools across the country. They were removed from their families and their communities so they would be “assimilated.” The consequences of this decision continue to negatively impact our Indigenous brothers and sisters to date.
Last month, May 2021, the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announced the discovery of unmarked burials sites of 215children's remains near former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C.
This month, June 2021, Cowessess First Nation has announced the discovery of 751 unmarked graves near former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan.
Let these tragic discoveries serve as impetus to do better as a country. WE MUST DO BETTER.
Where do we start? It starts individually with each of us. We must:
· ACKNOWLEDGE
· EDUCATE
· CELEBRATE
· SUPPORT
Lets learn about our real history as a country. Research and study about our Indigenous Peoples. It is our duty to learn so we can better understand our Indigenous communities. We must actively work towards ensuring this tragedy never happens again.
We can pay our respect to our Indigenous brothers and sisters by celebrating them, especially during Canada Day. Our beloved flag must be flown at half-mast.
We can support our Indigenous communities by providing them the tools and resources they need at work, at school. They must have equality of opportunity.
Our actions today will define what kind of Canada we will be tomorrow.
Miigwech,
Canadian Hispanic BarAssociation.