National Indigenous Peoples Day is an annual opportunity to honour and celebrate the diverse cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. Saskatchewan’s largest union is committed to making workplaces and our union inclusive, fair, and welcoming for our Indigenous and Métis members.

In the workplace, we have led the way with partnership agreements to improve job opportunities and collective agreement language that recognizes and accommodates cultural practices, guards against discrimination, and provides support for improving cultural understanding and respect for diversity at work.

In the community, we celebrate the diverse cultures of our Indigenous members.

We advocate for human rights and to honour treaty relationships.

We challenge the disparity of access to vital public services such as the unacceptable lack of clean drinking water in far too many Indigenous communities.

We join in the call for justice for those missing and murdered.

We pledge to do our part in taking action towards reconciliation, and we seek to work with Indigenous communities each and every day to address inequality and discrimination.

Let’s join in celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Article by: /n.m. cope 342 (CUPE SK)

Upcoming actions you can take part in:

• CUPE Saskatchewan will be joining the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Rally planned for 1 p.m. in front of the Legislative Building in Regina on Sunday, June 21, 2020, to stand in solidarity for justice and end to violence against Indigenous Peoples. CLICK HERE for event information. 

• Join a virtual celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Days on Sunday, June 21 in Saskatchewan. CLICK HERE to find out more from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner. 

• Join SaskMusic online on Saturday, June 20 at  7 p.m. for their National Indigenous Peoples Day Concert, featuring over 20 amazing artists from across the province.

Resources for CUPE Local Unions:

• Walking the talk: A practical guide to reconciliation for CUPE Locals

Learn more about CUPE Saskatchewan’s activism:

• Watch the video: CUPE signs an agreement with the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan to promote Métis employment and education, the environment and safe water.
• View the photo album from our annual Back to Batoche Canoe Trip

Learn more about the union’s Indigenous Council and past conference:

• CUPE SK Aboriginal Conference 2019: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples should be the minimum standard to ensure past is not repeated, urges guest speaker Wes George
• CUPE Saskatchewan elects two new members to its Aboriginal Council
• CUPE SK Aboriginal Conference 2019: Tackling racism is all our business!

Links to educational resources:

• Learn about treaties and reconciliation in Saskatchewan from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner