Aboriginal rights are respected here: working together to build our strength
PSAC Statement on National Aboriginal Peoples' Day
June 21 marks the summer solstice, which has been celebrated for centuries by many Aboriginal communities. In 1996, the Parliament of Canada proclaimed June 21st as National Aboriginal Peoples' Day.
National Aboriginal Peoples' Day is an opportunity for PSAC to express solidarity with Aboriginal Peoples and support the call for a better life for all Aboriginal Peoples. This is also an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Aboriginal Peoples in our communities and our union.
The federal government has failed to address the injustice of Aboriginal poverty, including lack of access to education, employment, housing, water, health care and other basic social services.
More than 12 years ago, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples made extensive recommendations to improve the situation of Aboriginal Peoples, however, these recommendations were either ignored or ineffectively implemented.
The Canadian government has refused to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal Peoples and backed away from the Kelowna Accord that dedicated $5.1 billion to improving the socioeconomic conditions of Aboriginal people in Canada.
PSAC is determined to make a difference in the social conditions of Aboriginal Peoples through political action.
The union's National Aboriginal Peoples' Network has embarked on numerous lobbying, letter-writing and community campaigns to draw attention to the many dire situations faced by Aboriginal communities. From Aboriginal poverty to the drinking water crisis, from gender inequalities to inadequate funding for on-reserve schools, members of our union make sure that Aboriginal peoples' voices are heard.
We are committed to providing dignity and respect to Aboriginal workers through union protection
Our union has responded to the requests of Aboriginal Peoples who demand respect, fairness and dignity in their workplace. First Nations police services, on-reserve educators, community workers and health care workers in northern communities are just a portion of the many Inuit, Métis and First Nations workers who have become members of our union.
We are confident in our ability to bargain contract language that honours culture, customs and traditions.
Our staff has bargained contracts that include time-off for traditional hunting seasons, harvests and spiritual celebrations. We advocate for employment equity to ensure that Aboriginal Peoples have fair access to employment. We also negotiate wage parity to ensure that Aboriginal workers are not paid less than others doing the same type of work.
We are proud of the work of our National Aboriginal Peoples' Network.
In 2005 our union formed a network to provide a unified voice for PSAC's First Nations, Inuit and Métis members. Aboriginal members of PSAC have worked hard to integrate Aboriginal members into union activism, while also encouraging PSAC stand in solidarity with Aboriginal struggles both in Canada and around the world.
On this National Aboriginal People's Day, we recognize and celebrate Aboriginal workers' contribution to the labour movement and renew our solidarity with their struggles for justice and human rights.
Poster of the event: Aboriginal rights are respected here: working together to build our strength
Date Modified : 2010/01/29
