June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day- a special day for all communities to celebrate, recognize, and honour the achievements, history and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. The BCGEU is proud to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and to reaffirm our commitment to lasting and meaningful reconciliation. We invite you to join us in marking this day with community events across British Columbia to showcase and celebrate Indigenous peoples through stories, songs, art, and dance. National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day for celebration, but it is also a day for reflection upon our shared history and in building a better future for all. The BCGEU is looking forward to delivering our members' stories and recommendations directly to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. We are hopeful that in listening and learning from the voices of Indigenous women, families and community leaders and in engaging respectfully in dialogue, we can ensure that decision makers act on what the Inquiry reveals.

Every day, our members across the province are taking important steps to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities and form relationships built on respect, partnership and recognition of rights. Our Indigenous solidarity poster, designed by artist Simone Diamond of the Quw'utsun (Cowichan), reminds us that our union is made stronger by our numbers and diversity.

To celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, BCGEU members will be attending community events with our friends and allies across British Columbia. To find an event in your hometown, please visit our events listings. If you are in Vancouver, please join us today for a pancake breakfast at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre at 9 am, a Friendship Walk at 11 am and a day of celebration, dance performances, canoeing, art displays and cultural learning events at Trout Lake.

We look forward to another year of putting reconciliation into action in our work places and communities and in building a new way forward for all Canadians.

UWU/MoveUP