Carolyn Roberts spoke on March 20, 2018. She was a result of the 60’s scoop. Her mother still does not hug. She went to St. Mary’s residential school. Carolyn Roberts’s children are the first in more than three generations that were not taken away from her. Aboriginal people make up 4% of the population but more than 60% of the children in foster care are of First Nations descent.
She asks an important question – Why does it matter? She goes on to say that we need to have this conversation and we need to educate ourselves. To educate yourself you need a sense of decency and a sense of justice.
What can you do?
- You as a Canadian can learn whose land you are on. You can learn the languages that the First Nations people speak where you work, live and play. Where is the community and how can you give back to them?
- Governmental systems in place today still hold back and suppress Indigenous people. Find out about the land claims and treaty rights and what does it mean to them? Ask questions and be curious – why does the Federal Government have two white non-indigenous females leading all departments in First Nations issues.
- The honourable Murray Sinclair states that education got us into this mess, and education is what will take us out of this mess.
We need to move together side by side and our decisions need to be rooted in honour and deep respect.