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I want non-Indigenous people to
understand that there are different
groups and identities of Indigenous
peoples and that we each have different
cultures and histories. To understand
that we are very different, but that
we also have commonalities and
shared obstacles that we are trying to
overcome. So whether it be suicide,
violence against women, drug
addiction or alcoholism, they need to
understand that our struggles all stem
from the same roots in the violence
we have faced. We need to be open
to talking about it and it can't just be
our communities, it has to be other
non-Indigenous communities living in
Canada as well.
— Mikka Komaksiutiksak
Rankin Inlet
Alongside the tremendous positive
change we have seen ignited by
Indigenous leaders across the country
there continues to be enormous
challenges. Our youth continue
to face inequality in areas such as
education, the child welfare system,
access to healthcare and clean water,
representation in the media, violence
and the criminal justice system –just to
name a few...If this country is serious
about reconciliation we need to move
the conversation beyond just residential
schools to address these current
injustices as well.
— Lindsay DuPré
Toronto - Métis Nation of Ontario
