Dear Members,

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

This day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.

As part of CUPE 4070's dedication to reconciliation, we understand that truth must come first. Lindsay Poll, Local 4070 CARD Chair and member of Treaty 6 territory and Métis Region 4 will be in the office offering support to members from an Indigenous framework as “Auntie in Residence”.

The Union has secured permission from the YYC Airport authority for traditional smudging ceremonies at YYC in the CUPE 4070 office, located on the arrivals level behind carousel 7.

Please come by and participate in ceremony - reflect on this borrowed land and our individual responsibility to truth and reconciliation.

Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

Honouring the legacy of Indian Residential Schools
The Indian Residential School system operated across Canada between the 1870s and the late 1990s. Indian Residential Schools were created to separate Indigenous children from their families and communities, and to systematically strip away their traditions, cultural practices and languages.

More than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children from across the country were forced to attend Indian Residential Schools, which were often located far from their homes. Many never made it home. 

Learn and reflect 
Take some time to learn about the stories of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and the ongoing legacy of Indian Residential School.  

Links for videos:  

Music video - https://youtu.be/Whg_DrisN18 

Braves wear braids documentary - https://youtu.be/U4B_hUs8A4E 

nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up - https://www.nfb.ca/film/nipawistamasowin-we-will-stand-up/  

94 Calls to action   https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf 

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD)