by: Sofia N, a volunteer with the Edgemont Youth Press
Throughout the month of June, individuals from all across Canada come together to commemorate National Indigenous History Month. During this time, citizens are asked to take some time to educate themselves on the rich and unique culture, history, and stories of the Indigenous people whose land we live on. Additionally, National Indigenous History Month is a time to reflect on the past injustices and hardships that Indigenous people have faced and make an individual commitment to furthering truth and reconciliation in our country. I know that for me personally, being a ninth-grade student, I am learning more and more everyday about the atrocities which Indigenous people in Canada have faced throughout history. All of these events – from the beginning of the colonization of Canada by European colonizers to the creation of residential schools to the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites – are heinous. Learning about these tragic events and gaining a stronger understanding of everything that Indigenous people have gone through has shown me just how crucial truth and reconciliation really is and has motivated me to take action through my school and other community platforms to stand up for what I believe in.
As a country, we need to be committed to creating safe and accepting places for all, but that takes work from each and every single one of us. To this day, we see too many injustices being committed against Indigenous people. Currently, Indigenous women represent 10% of the total population of missing women in Canada. This just goes to show the excruciating amount of prejudice that still exists. We must work to put an end to this bias. Some ways to do this include reading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and learning how you can help to achieve them and educating yourself on Indigenous history and the residential school system through credible articles, books available in public libraries, and other resources. Each of us can also take steps toward fully acknowledging, respecting, and understanding the territory on which we live. Let us come together to help right the past wrongs of this country and ensure that no individual ever has to go through the same kind of pain and injustice that Indigenous people have faced in the past and continue to face today.
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