OPSEU/SEFPO logo

href=/

  • Home
  • Join Us
  • About Us
  • News
  • Events
  • Sectors
    • Find your sector
    • OPS
      • Ontario Public Service – Unified
      • Ontario Public Service – Correctional Bargaining Unit
    • Colleges
      • College Faculty
      • College Support Full-time
      • College Support Part-time
    • Education
      • Boards of Education and Cultural Institutions
      • Universities
    • General
      • General
      • Private Contractors
      • Sector 16 – Property Assessment
      • Municipalities
    • Health Care
      • Long Term Care Facilities
      • Mental Health and Addictions Division
      • Hospital Support
      • Hospital Professionals
      • Ambulance
      • CBS & Diagnostics
      • Community Health Care Professionals
    • Liquor Board
      • Liquor Board Employees
    • Social Services
      • BPS Corrections
      • Child Treatment
      • Children’s Aid Societies
      • Community Agencies
      • Developmental Services
  • Members
    • OPSEU/SEFPO Members Tools and Resources
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution
      • Member Portal
      • inSolidarity
      • Grievance Awards Database: Links and Resources
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Forms and Documents
      • Regional Hardship Fund
      • Labour Law and Legal Decisions
      • Find Your Collective Agreement
      • Website Links
      • Consumer Price Index (CPI)
      • Health and Safety
      • Scholarships
    • OPSEU/SEFPO Member Services
      • Equity Unit
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Solidarity Funds
      • Member Education
      • Retired Members Division
      • Pensions and Benefits
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Convention 2023 – Apr 20 to 22
    • Job Opportunities
      • Job Opportunities with OPSEU/SEFPO
    • Member Discounts
      • OPSEU/SEFPO gear
      • Shop OPSEU Enterprises: Member Discount Programs
  • Contact Us
  • Français
Menu
  • Home
  • Join Us
  • About Us
  • News
  • Events
  • Sectors
    • Find your sector
    • OPS
      • Ontario Public Service – Unified
      • Ontario Public Service – Correctional Bargaining Unit
    • Colleges
      • College Faculty
      • College Support Full-time
      • College Support Part-time
    • Education
      • Boards of Education and Cultural Institutions
      • Universities
    • General
      • General
      • Private Contractors
      • Sector 16 – Property Assessment
      • Municipalities
    • Health Care
      • Long Term Care Facilities
      • Mental Health and Addictions Division
      • Hospital Support
      • Hospital Professionals
      • Ambulance
      • CBS & Diagnostics
      • Community Health Care Professionals
    • Liquor Board
      • Liquor Board Employees
    • Social Services
      • BPS Corrections
      • Child Treatment
      • Children’s Aid Societies
      • Community Agencies
      • Developmental Services
  • Members
    • OPSEU/SEFPO Members Tools and Resources
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution
      • Member Portal
      • inSolidarity
      • Grievance Awards Database: Links and Resources
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Forms and Documents
      • Regional Hardship Fund
      • Labour Law and Legal Decisions
      • Find Your Collective Agreement
      • Website Links
      • Consumer Price Index (CPI)
      • Health and Safety
      • Scholarships
    • OPSEU/SEFPO Member Services
      • Equity Unit
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Solidarity Funds
      • Member Education
      • Retired Members Division
      • Pensions and Benefits
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Convention 2023 – Apr 20 to 22
    • Job Opportunities
      • Job Opportunities with OPSEU/SEFPO
    • Member Discounts
      • OPSEU/SEFPO gear
      • Shop OPSEU Enterprises: Member Discount Programs
  • Contact Us
  • Français
Menu
  • Home
  • Join Us
  • About Us
  • News
  • Events
  • Sectors
    • Find your sector
    • OPS
      • Ontario Public Service – Unified
      • Ontario Public Service – Correctional Bargaining Unit
    • Colleges
      • College Faculty
      • College Support Full-time
      • College Support Part-time
    • Education
      • Boards of Education and Cultural Institutions
      • Universities
    • General
      • General
      • Private Contractors
      • Sector 16 – Property Assessment
      • Municipalities
    • Health Care
      • Long Term Care Facilities
      • Mental Health and Addictions Division
      • Hospital Support
      • Hospital Professionals
      • Ambulance
      • CBS & Diagnostics
      • Community Health Care Professionals
    • Liquor Board
      • Liquor Board Employees
    • Social Services
      • BPS Corrections
      • Child Treatment
      • Children’s Aid Societies
      • Community Agencies
      • Developmental Services
  • Members
    • OPSEU/SEFPO Members Tools and Resources
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution
      • Member Portal
      • inSolidarity
      • Grievance Awards Database: Links and Resources
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Forms and Documents
      • Regional Hardship Fund
      • Labour Law and Legal Decisions
      • Find Your Collective Agreement
      • Website Links
      • Consumer Price Index (CPI)
      • Health and Safety
      • Scholarships
    • OPSEU/SEFPO Member Services
      • Equity Unit
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Solidarity Funds
      • Member Education
      • Retired Members Division
      • Pensions and Benefits
      • OPSEU/SEFPO Convention 2023 – Apr 20 to 22
    • Job Opportunities
      • Job Opportunities with OPSEU/SEFPO
    • Member Discounts
      • OPSEU/SEFPO gear
      • Shop OPSEU Enterprises: Member Discount Programs
  • Contact Us
  • Français
OPSEU logo

href=https://opseu.org

Search
Close

Justice for 215 Indigenous children and all survivors of residential schools

Every child matters
  • May 31, 2021 - 8:31 pm
  • Announcement
  • Equity, Social Justice
  • Indigenous Circle, Provincial Human Rights Committee [PHRC]
Facebook
Twitter
Email

We extend our solidarity and condolences during this devastating time to the First Nations community in Tk’emlúpste te Secwépemc territory and across this land.

We are shocked and saddened by the reports of the discovery of the remains of 215 children, some young as three, at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. This is another terrible chapter in the dark and horrific legacy of residential schools.

These Indigenous children were taken from their land, isolated from their homes, forced into residential schools, and finally, died while in care of church and state.  For decades, their lives were left unaccounted for.

Over 130 residential schools were built across Canada and operated between 1831 until 1996. The Kamloops Indian Residential School was one of the largest residential schools and operated from 1893 to 1978. It was opened and run by the Catholic Church until the federal government took it over in the late 1960s.

Children were ripped from their families – their names, culture and language erased. Disturbing and unspeakable horrors took place within the walls and grounds of these colonial institutions. This was and is genocide. We cannot call it by any other name.

Today, OPSEU/SEFPO reaffirms its commitment and responsibility to truth and reconciliation. We remain firm and steadfast in our support to the six calls-to-action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report as outlined in the “Missing children and burial information” Action 71 to 76.

The historical oppression passed through intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools continues to have heartbreaking and devastating impacts on First Nation communities.

We must act now and not further delay justice for these 215 children, their loved ones, their communities and all survivors of residential schools.

While we applaud the federal government’s recent actions in passing Bill C-5, we now call on the Senate to pass this legislation that would designate September 30 as a national day for truth and reconciliation.  This date is already widely recognized as Orange T-Shirt Day amongst Indigenous communities across Canada.  Orange T-Shirt Day witnesses and honours the healing journey of residential school survivors and their families while committing to the ongoing process of reconciliation.

All flagpoles at OPSEU/SEFPO buildings have been lowered to half-mast from May 31 – June 8, 2021 for 215 hours in honour of each of the 215 children whose remains were found buried at the former residential school.

In solidarity,

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU/SEFPO President

Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-President/Treasurer

Krista Maracle, OPSEU/SEFPO Chair, Indigenous Circle

Related News

Ford’s Toronto Courthouse Chaos: $956 million-dollar building falling apart, workers getting injured & cases thrown out

September 30, 2023

Ford’s Toronto Courthouse Chaos: $956 million-dollar building falling apart, workers getting injured & cases thrown out

Pay Fair, Protect Children: Workers at the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa hold rally for improved safety and wages

September 29, 2023

Pay Fair, Protect Children: Workers at the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa hold rally for improved safety and wages

Apply now for OPSEU/SEFPO Women's Conference - Dec 1-3

September 28, 2023

Apply now for OPSEU/SEFPO Women’s Conference – Dec 1-3

OPSEU/SEFPO commemorates National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 28, 2023

OPSEU/SEFPO commemorates National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Help CUPE and ONA health care workers get a fair deal – send a letter in solidarity!

September 28, 2023

Help CUPE and ONA health care workers get a fair deal – send a letter in solidarity!

OPS Unified Bargaining Update – September 2023

September 27, 2023

OPS Unified Bargaining Update – September 2023

Case Comment: Workers fight to respect the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Holiday

September 25, 2023

Case Comment: Workers fight to respect the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Holiday

Petition to Algoma University Senate: Stop the privatization of public education at Algoma University!

September 25, 2023

Petition to Algoma University Senate: Stop the privatization of public education at Algoma University!

See all News
Job openings at OPSEU/SEFPO
  • Join Us
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Sectors
  • Members
  • Feedback
  • Contact Us
  • Français
Disclaimer, Copyright and Trade Marks.
OPSEU SEFPO
@opseusefpo
Tweets by OPSEU/SEFPO

Location
Ontario Public Service
Employees Union
100 Lesmill Rd.
Toronto, ON
M3B 3P8

Stay in Touch
Head Office
Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
416-443-8888
1-800-268-7376
opseu@opseu.org

Media Enquiries?

Email us: opseucommunications@opseu.org

Ontario Public Service Employees Union

Join Us

We can help you

1-844-677-3848
Complete Online Form
Read more

OPSEU/SEFPO Social Media

TikTok

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube