A Message from Our Indigenous Committee

To mark the one-year anniversary of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, UFCW 1518’s Indigenous Committee is repeating the same call to action we made last Sept. 30 and imploring the B.C. Government to make Sept. 30 a paid statutory holiday for all workers.

As a union operating on the traditional lands of multiple Indigenous groups, it is our collective responsibility to hold elected leaders responsible for this reconciliatory act. Thank you to the over 1,300 members who added your names to our petition to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Day with a paid statutory holiday. Thanks to you, we’ve almost hit our goal of 1,400 signatures. If you haven’t already, Sign the petition to help us get there.

Just as reconciliation is only possible if all institutions and all people on Turtle Island (what we call Canada) participate, real reconciliation can only happen if Indigenous peoples have space and time to grieve the losses they’ve endured under Canada’s genocidal doctrine.

We encourage settler members of UFCW 1518 to familiarize themselves with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report and to wear an orange shirt in remembrance of the children who never came home from Canada’s Residential Schools. It’s a small but important and healing step towards acknowledging this country’s true history and building solidarity with Indigenous workers and neighbours.

This year, UFCW 1518 is commemorating The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with orange shirts that feature original artwork by Coast Salish artist Bear (Doug) Horne.

In solidarity,
The UFCW 1518 Indigenous Committee:

Anita Letendre
Christine Holowka
Laurie Simon
Marylou Fonda
Raven Morningstar, Committee Chair