June is National Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month, which began in 2009 with the passing of a unanimous motion in the House of Commons. In June, Canadians commemorate National Indigenous History Month to recognize the heritage, history and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
Indigenous History Month is dominated this year by the horrific discovery of an estimated 215 children in a mass grave at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. It is with this backdrop that we introduce four weeks of listening, learning and coming together as a community.
We encourage everyone to:
Get Educated
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Listen to the Honourable Murray Sinclair, former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as he urges Canadians to prepare for more discoveries similar to what was found at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, BC.
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Learn about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and Calls to Action, particularly the calls to action for post-secondary institutions and educators.
Get Engaged
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Reflect on the truth expressed by UBC Professor Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond in her opinion piece in the Globe and Mail, where she encourages us to “mourn these lives tragically lost. Let us name the children, to ensure we know who they are and so we can return them to whom they belong. But to honour their lives and countless others, let us act.”
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Read about the actions of Danilo Caron, MASc graduate student and member of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, and how he organized members of the Applied Science community in painting the Engineering Cairn with 215 handprints as a way to express our sincere sorrow and support for the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation and all Residential School Survivors.
Call to Action
It is up to each of us individually, and all of us collectively, to take action. We all have an obligation to learn more about activities happening all across Canada as part of Indigenous History Month.
