National Aboriginal Day - Important to Us All

June 21 is set aside to celebrate National Aboriginal Day - a day to for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the important social, economic, cultural and political contributions to the national fabric made by Aboriginal Peoples - First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

In 1995, a Royal Commission and the Sacred Assembly, a national conference of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples, chaired by Manitoba MP Elijah Harper, recommended that National Aboriginal Day be established - echoing years of similar calls. The following year, June 21 was recognized as National Aboriginal Day by an Act of Parliament.

Manitoba Federation of Labour President Darlene Dziewit said all Canadians should participate in events that are open to the "It is particularly important." Dziewit said, "in light of the fact that June 29 is a National Day of Action in support of fair treatment for Aboriginal Peoples across the country. They deserve to be treated with fairness, dignity and respec - just as all Canadians expect and require."

The Assembly of First Nations has articulated four objectives of the National Day of Action.

1. Resolve land claims disputes - There is a need for Canada to recognize that land - particularly long standing and unresolved land claims, provides a viable community and resource base for First Nations communities. With over 600 First Nation communities spread across the country and an estimated 900 specific land claims unresolved (breach of treaty rights) it is estimated at the current pace of negotiations it will be another century before these claims are resolved. Clearly this is an untenable time frame to wait for justice.
2. Reform self-government policy to enable a renewal of the relationship between First Nations and Canada.
3. Close the gap in socioeconomic status between aboriginal peoples, and other Canadians. Currently one in four First Nations children live in poverty, compared to one in six Canadian children. Employment and economic development are fundamental to the future prosperity of First Nations communities and Canada overall.
4. Apologize to residential school survivors who are still waiting for the Prime Minister of Canada to close the chapter on this shameful honourable.

President Dziewit said, "The key to building bridges and not roadblocks between all Canadians is solidarity that is based on fairness, respect and dignity...the very things promoted by National Aboriginal Day. These are the things that built the union movement and our society."