National Indigenous Peoples Day

Today, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

We invite all our members to not only celebrate the exceptional contributions of Indigenous peoples today, but also, in light of the violent incidents involving police officers and Indigenous persons which have come to light, to engage in discussions, listen and learn about what is needed to achieve reconciliation, counter racism, and eliminate systemic barriers.

As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report states, all Canadians, as Treaty peoples, share in the responsibility for creating an equitable and inclusive society.  Supporting Indigenous peoples’ cultural revitalization and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, laws, protocols, and connections to the land into the reconciliation process are essential.

The AJC recognizes that systemic racism is real and that for too long this has not been acknowledged or confronted.  We also believe that everyone has a right to equal benefit and protection of the law and we recognize that this has not always been the reality.

While we collectively have much more work to do towards achieving a just society for all, today is a day to acknowledge and honour Indigenous peoples in Canada. We hope everyone has a peaceful day of celebration and reflection.