Indigenous Peoples Day is a call to do more than just acknowledge the day, it’s a call to action.
As the Ford government in Ontario pushes through legislation like Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, which violates First Nations rights under the guise of “economic development” we are reminded true justice starts by following the lead of Indigenous communities, not bulldozing over their sovereignty.
This year, we uplift a powerful moment in the labour movement. On June 3, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) issued a national apology to Indigenous Peoples for systemic harm in health care and backed it with real action and accountability.
Resources to Learn and Act:
Apology:
CFNU Issues National Apology to Indigenous Peoples for Harm in Health Care →
Report:
Beyond Equity: Taking Action to Address Indigenous-Specific Racism in Nursing
Read the Full Report
Resolution:
CFNU Members Commit to Reconciliation Efforts at National Convention
OFL Resources and Tools:
At the Ontario Federation of Labour, we know that reconciliation does not come with out real action. We join Indigenous workers and communities fighting for land, justice, and economic dignity, especially recently in the face of Bill 5, which aims to strip protections under the false promise of “prosperity.”
Sign up to join the fight to Kill Bill 5 here.
Find resources put together by the OFL First Nation, Metis, Inuit Circle Committee:
Guidelines for Indigenous Smudge Ceremony
Two Spirit and Allyship
A Tobacco Offering Protocol
Guidelines for Working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Elder
Reconciliation is a radical, daily practice. It means rejecting colonial laws, listening to Indigenous leadership, and fighting for a future rooted in land justice, worker power, and real accountability.
