The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Calls on the Province to Establish Truth and Reconciliation Day
April 14, 2023
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) urges the government of Manitoba to engage with First Nations on making the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a provincial statutory holiday.
Since 2021, federally regulated workplaces have been granted the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day, as a paid holiday, but Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government has refused to follow suit.
“Manitoba has missed another opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to reconciliation with First Nations people of this province,” said Grand Chief Cathy Merrick. “And while AMC commends Prime Minister Trudeau on his recent call for provinces and territories to respond to the 94 calls to action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it remains clear that the Manitoba government cannot commit to even a symbolic gesture toward reconciliation.”
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, AMC encourages Canadians to participate in reconciliation by revisiting reports such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord, and Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
“Once again, AMC calls on the province to consult with First Nations and make Orange Shirt Day a statutory holiday,” said Grand Chief Merrick. “And until this government does, we welcome Manitobans to join First Nations and Canada in recognizing September 30th as a day to reflect on the impact of residential schools and honour survivors and the children who never made it home.”
For more information, please contact:
Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email: media@manitobachiefs.com
About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of 62 of the 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 151,000 First Nation citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe (Ojibway), Nehetho / Ininew (Cree), Anishininew (OjibweCree), Denesuline (Dene) and Dakota Oyate (Dakota) people.