From the Office of the Mayor - 25th Anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day

Today is the 25th Anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. June is also National Indigenous History Month.

Honouring the culture and histories of the Indigenous Peoples not only broadens our human story but also ensures that a complete history of Canada and all her Peoples are duly recognized and remembered.

Three weeks ago, we experienced a heartbreaking and sobering prelude to National Indigenous History Month: 215 children were found in a mass grave at a Kamloops residential school. An uncomfortable truth is that these Residential Schools are not part of our distant past. The last Residential School in Canada closed in 1996. I graduated from High School in 1997.

And we know the situation in Kamloops was not an isolated one, which bring the question: How many other children never came home? We can all take steps to raise understanding about colonization and its ongoing effect on Indigenous Peoples. We can take steps to rebuild and renew relationships that may have been forgotten and answer the Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report.

Part of making change is committing to being uncomfortable, to learning and challenging what we think we know. To read, to learn, to donate. We can all do something. Here are some ideas:

• Join our local Truth and Reconciliation Groups or attend their events: Mississippi Mills All My Relations
• Check out Book Lists for children, junior, teens and adults written by or featuring Indigenous People or Indigenous History. Thanks to the great library staff for these lists:  Books Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
• Support or get involved with organizations such as:
  -The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is a national Indigenous charitable organization with the mandate to educate and create awareness and understanding about the Residential School System, including the intergenerational impacts.
  -The First Nations Child & Family Caring Society provides reconciliation-based public education, research and support to promote the safety and wellbeing of First Nations children, young people, families and Nations. They have lots of resources and information on how you and your family can take peaceful and respectful action. 
• Learn about the work of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation 
• Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Calls to Action
• Read a summary of 94 Actions from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report
• Take a free course in Indigenous Studies:
  -Indigenous Canada explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. This free course through the University of Alberta is for people interested in acquiring a basic familiarity with Indigenous/non-Indigenous relationships.  
  -Indigenous Worldviews and Education is an online course offered for free by the University of Toronto. The course is intended both for Aboriginal and non-aboriginal students hoping to learn more about indigenous life. 

Remember, there is a National Crisis Line is available to provide support to former residential school students and those affected. Emotional and crisis referral services are available by calling 1-866-925-4419.

In closing, thank you to the members of our community and the businesses who are planting the beautiful Garden of Remembrance at the entrance to Mill Run. Their goal is to plant 215 flowers for the children lost in Kamloops, knowing there are more missing children.