This June 21st is the 25thanniversary of NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay. This year the occasion, which celebrates the cultures of First Nations, Inuit andMétisPeoples and their contributions toCanada,closely follows the horrific discoveries of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at the sites of former residential schools.
Consequently, this NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay the other critical purpose of the day has added emphasis: to recognizeCanada’s brutal colonial history, and the contemporary inequalities Canada’sIndigenousPeoples continue to endure.
The residential school system, which forced the assimilation of 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples by the Canadian government, didn’t end until 1996. Today, there are more Indigenous children in government care than there was during the era of the residential school system.
The estimated HIV prevalence rate among Indigenous peoples is about two times higher than the rate of the general population in Canada.
Data from last year shows BC’s First Nations people died from overdose at a rate 5.5 times higher than other residents.
The BC-CfE recognizes NationalIndigenousPeoples Day as an opportunity for every one of us to deepen our understanding and awareness of the struggles faced by Indigenouspeoples.The BC-CfE is humbly grateful for the many significant contributions Indigenouspeoples have made and continue to make to our mission.
PHC’s Indigenous Wellness & Reconciliation team led an early celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 18th with a virtual screening of the documentary “Searching for Winnetou” followed by a conversation with the film’s creator, Drew Hayden Taylor.
Please take this opportunity to educate yourself on the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, a history deeply affected by colonialism, racism, social exclusion, and suppression of self-determination.
The following links offer a great starting point for learning:
- The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation houses many reports on Canada’s reconciliation efforts.
- Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond’s 2020 report, “In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care“, shows how BC’s healthcare system is guilty of “stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice” against Indigenous people and how this “results in a range of negative impacts, harm, and even death”.
- BC-CfE Webinar Learning Series: “Water Women Rising:” Indigenizing Re-search to explore how Indigenous women living with HIV understand and support their health“