Dear Brothers & Sisters,
On June 21 National Aboriginal Day, we honour Aboriginal Peoples across Canada. We celebrate their contributions, recognize their struggles, and stand together in solidarity to fight against the continued mistreatment and abuse from the Harper Conservatives.
Harper's first budget, presented in 2006, cut funding to Indigenous programs by 80 per cent. Last year, the Harper Conservatives cut funding to Sisters in Spirit, an acclaimed program responsible for bringing national attention to the hundreds of cases of murdered and missing Aboriginal women.
This fall, Aboriginal PSAC members will gather in Yellowknife, NT for the PSAC National Aboriginal Conference, which will unite and engage Aboriginal members to take action to fight back against this regressive government and move the human rights agenda forward.
If you are an Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis PSAC member, visit www.psac.com/naim to find out how you can get involved in your union to make gains and fight for the rights of all Aboriginal Peoples.
I encourage all Prairies members to celebrate National Aboriginal Day in their workplaces and in their communities. Strong, vibrant, healthy and prosperous Aboriginal communities make for a better and more equitable country.
In Solidarity,
Robyn Benson
Regional Executive Vice-President
Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairies