Ten years ago, the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission delivered their report detailing 94 calls to action to make meaningful progress on reconciliation. Today, we must all acknowledge that we are moving backwards, and undoing the little progress achieved over the past decade.
Under Mark Carney, the federal government is turning away from its responsibilities to the First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. His arbitrary, across-the-board cuts will hit Indigenous Services Canada hard, leaving communities across the country without essential programs.
First Nations are already disproportionately impacted by funding shortfalls. A 15 per cent reduction in spending on Indigenous-focused programs will do irreparable damage to progress that has been made and end up costing more in the long run.
Today we take time to reflect on the lands, lives and stories stolen from the Indigenous peoples over generations – but we must all acknowledge that this day needs to be more than reflection. As federal workers, we have a responsibility to hold the government’s feet to the fire on its commitments on reconciliation.
Progress on the calls to action is already moving too slowly but we can’t let Prime Minister Carney and his radical budget cuts undermine what has been achieved so far.
The Indigenous peoples of these lands we call Canada deserve better. We all do.
Miigwech.
