SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — National Indigenous History Month
June 15, 2021
Honourable senators, today I am speaking to you from my home in Riverview, New Brunswick, on the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people.
June is National Indigenous History Month, a time for learning about, appreciating and acknowledging the contributions First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have made in shaping Canada.
When I think about this important month, I am reminded that almost 50% of our current population never learned about residential schools during their education. This important history is sadly missing from texts.
One of the greatest gifts of being in the Senate is meeting and making friends with our Indigenous colleagues. I am grateful to each of you for your engagement, your gifts and your many important teachings about your culture and history. It has added to my understanding and appreciation of your history, your strength and your struggles.
In 1996, National Aboriginal Day was announced by then Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc through the proclamation declaring June 21 of each year as National Aboriginal Day. In June 2009, the House of Commons unanimously passed law designating June as National Indigenous History Month. Both are significant, but I feel it’s not enough. There are many issues that our Indigenous people still face, including racism, the lack of housing and potable water.
This month, the passage of Bill C-5 will deem September 30 a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Each September 30 will be a day of remembrance, especially around the residential schools, where an estimated 150,000 children were taken from their homes and sent to harsh and dangerous institutions. It is believed that there are only 80,000 survivors alive today. This statutory holiday will hopefully honour all those affected by residential schools, including their families. We will continue to wear orange t-shirts for “every child matters,” but we need to do more — not just on September 30, but all year long.
Several other bills have passed recently in this place, but reconciliation has not been accomplished. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission report contains 94 Calls to Action, which have not been attained. We need to make a commitment to work toward their achievement — especially with the recent discovery of the 215 children’s remains in Kamloops, B.C.
It’s time, dear colleagues, to wake up, take responsibility and make a greater effort to work toward reconciliation. Reconciliation must be a way of life. It will take many years to repair damaged trust and relationships. It requires not only apologies, reparations and relearning Canada’s national history, but Canadians from all walks of life are responsible for taking action on reconciliation in concrete ways, working collaboratively with Aboriginal people. Reconciliation begins with each and every one of us. Thank you. Wela’lioq.