EDITORIAL: A day to rally behind Canada's first peoples
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This year marks the first time Sept. 30 will be formally observed as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is now a federal statutory holiday.
The broader conversation around Indigenous issues in Canada has unfortunately become very politicized and divided. It’s also a deeply emotional one, which is understandable.
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It is our hope that on this occasion Canadians can turn away from any negativity, whatever shape it may take — whether it’s racism against Indigenous people or those who decide to vent their frustrations by tearing down statues and burning churches.
Instead, let’s use this national day as an opportunity to come together.
Many First Nations people simply request that Canadians hear them out — to learn about their history and listen to their stories about residential schools.
This is an easy request to accommodate and honour. Only good things can come from listening with an open ear to the experiences of others.
Canada’s first peoples have a story to tell and it is one worth listening to, wherever it takes us.
Some of these stories will be ones of hardship and tragedy, as the residential schools saga reveals. But let’s not forget that there are also many positive and empowering stories to tell about Indigenous Canadians.
This is a young population that is seeing an impressive increase in many important indicators. Whether it’s educational statistics or numbers around entrepreneurship, Canada’s first peoples are building upon their successes.
Let’s tell these stories more and let’s celebrate them more.
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Let’s make stability, prosperity and happiness our wish for all people who live in Canada. This is a great country with an abundance of resources and opportunity — let’s all succeed together.
A win for Indigenous people can and should be considered a win for all Canadians.
We’re not all going to agree on the nitty gritty of federal policy issues. It’s human nature to disagree. There’s nothing wrong with that.
So let’s focus on what we have in common and how we can move forward on shared interests.
A National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools — but it can also be a day for everyone to rally behind and celebrate Indigenous persons in Canada.
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