Monday is National Indigenous Peoples' Day, and it's an important day among Canadians for many reasons.
CKDM caught up with indigenous community figure and Manitoba’s NDP leader Wab Kinew for his thoughts as this day is being honoured across our nation.
Kinew spoke about the significance of the day for every Canadian.
“I think national indigenous people’s day is an opportunity to reflect on the contributions indigenous people have made to our country and society. We are lucky to live in a place called Manitoba, and that place was named by the Anishinaabe language. So it is those parts of our heritage, whether you are indigenous or non-indigenous, indigenous peoples have shared our identity and shaped our country.”
When it comes to this years day of celebration, Kinew noted that it would be different for a few reasons,
“This indigenous people’s day is not going to look like past years. Prior to the pandemic, there would be pow-wows and barbeques, you know those positive celebrations in the community that we look forward to.”
he added “I think this years is obviously going to be online due to the pandemic for the most part, and i think also with the fact that our country is still grieving from the 215 children who were identified at the Kamloops Residential school site. I think that also going to put a certain tone on the festivities this year, where maybes its more of a solemn event.”
The NDP leader went on to say there are many communities making reconciliation happen and that he hopes national indigenous is a chance for those to show some pride and reflection.
“I hope it is also a moment where we can just appreciate how in places like the Parkland in Dauphin, every single day you have people from different walks of life coming together to make our province great.”
In 2017 Mr. Kinew ran for provincial NDP leadership and was elected leader at the NDP convention on September 16th. He then led the NDP party into the 2019 provincial election. Under his leadership, the party gained six seats.
