Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 1st, 2018

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Let us start right away, because we are a little late.

Welcome, everyone, to our 128th meeting.

We have some new members here. Mr. Saganash, Mr. Deltell, Mr. Vandal and Mr. Casey, welcome.

We are beginning consideration of Bill C-369, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Indigenous Peoples Day).

As witnesses, we have Georgina Jolibois, MP, and Morley Googoo, Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, representing Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Why don't we begin with you, Ms. Jolibois, as the proponent for this bill?

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mahsi cho. Thank you very much. I would like to begin my remarks by thanking the members of the committee for having me here to discuss the creation of National Indigenous Peoples Day as a statutory holiday.

I very much appreciate the support that my bill has gotten from across party lines as we move forward on the government's project of reconciliation with first nations, Métis and Inuit peoples across Canada.

I'd like to acknowledge that the idea for National Indigenous Peoples Day is not my own, but is the work of generations of indigenous people who have come before my time, and it is sustained by the work of first nations, Métis and Inuit people who keep their celebrations going on every year on June 21.

It has a deep and vibrant history, and I would encourage you all to seek out its story. National Indigenous Peoples Day is currently one part of Celebrate Canada, four days in the summer when the Canadian government sponsors events across the country to celebrate the people that make our country unique.

You may know June 21 as the summer solstice, the longest day of sunshine every year. As such, it holds a special significance to many indigenous people, who feel a unique connection to the land they live on and are inseparable from.

Over your study of Bill C-369, you're going to be hearing a lot of remarks about residential schools, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action and a day of truth and reconciliation, specifically call to action number 80 from the TRC, which calls for a national day of truth and reconciliation to honour survivors, their families and their communities so that the legacy and history of residential schools is never forgotten.

It was in the spirit of call to action 80 that I proposed my bill. I understand that it doesn't meet the exact wording of the call to action, but I do believe my bill fulfills its intentions. You will remember that the project of residential schools was to eliminate the culture and presence of first nations, Métis and Inuit people because they weren't a part of Canadian society, and that the government believed there was no future for first nations, Métis or Inuit people in our country. History has not been kind to indigenous people, but indigenous people continue to survive and continue to engage with all levels of government in good faith.

First nations, Métis and Inuit people want to have a positive relationship with the federal government, and I believe that the decisions made by this committee will affect how that relationship moves forward.

I do want to be clear that I understand the reasoning behind having a date that is different from the one I proposed in my bill. Call to action 80 specifically requests a day recognized as a day of truth and reconciliation for the exclusive reason of honouring the survivors and legacy of residential schools. Orange Shirt Day is a great choice for that day.

Before proposing my bill, I did carefully consider Orange Shirt Day. When I consulted with my colleagues and my community, I believed that September 30 could serve that purpose, but if we think about the bigger picture of reconciliation, I believe June 21 must be a statutory holiday. I think first nations, Métis and Inuit people are more than the trauma they've experienced.

I've said in the past that reconciliation is the burden of government, not indigenous people. I think that if there is going to be only one statutory holiday that recognizes indigenous people in Canada, it should be a day that celebrates the culture, life, ways and futures of first nations, Métis and Inuit people.

A day about indigenous people should not be just for the federal government to apologize for what they've done and for all of Canada to reflect on the dark legacy of residential schools. While honouring the past is crucial, I think that more people in Canada will benefit from a day that is organized around education, celebration and healing of indigenous heritage and life. People in Canada are capable of mourning the past while also celebrating the present and looking toward the future.

June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, has been chosen by indigenous people. It's organized by indigenous people to celebrate the culture and contributions of indigenous people. It would be a momentous step toward reconciliation for the government to recognize that work and to recognize June 21 as the statutory holiday chosen by indigenous people.

If the project of reconciliation is to reverse the harms done by the residential schools, the National Indigenous Peoples Day does the exact opposite of what residential schools intended. The residential school program used the differences between Canadians and indigenous people as a reason to discriminate and eliminate their culture. National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrates that difference. It fosters an understanding of indigenous cultures and provides an opportunity for Canadians who otherwise wouldn't have the chance to see the indigenous people within their community, to see life from their perspective and to learn something about their neighbours.

When I ask myself “What's the best day to create a better relationship between indigenous people and the rest of Canada?”, the answer will always be National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.

June 21 is marked by community celebrations, concerts and activities in schools. There are barbecues, parades, shared meals, film screenings, ceremonies and lessons across the country. This past year, we saw one of the largest celebrations of National Indigenous Peoples Day, with concerts held across the country and streamed live on the APTN, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, for people all over to watch online.

I've heard a number of people say we can celebrate these positive things on a different day, too, and that's true. First nations, Métis and Inuit people could celebrate the things they've accomplished every single day of the year. I have the opportunity daily as a Dene person to learn from my elders and pass on the lessons they teach me. Many indigenous people across Canada have the opportunity to practise their traditions, to share their stories, to live an indigenous life.

Reconciliation calls for a deeper appreciation and understanding by Canadian society of what I and others practise daily. June 21 is the opportunity now for indigenous people to be publicly proud of who they are and where they come from.

In my view, National Indigenous Peoples Day would accomplish far more for the future of indigenous people in this country than would a day only focusing on the legacy of residential schools. In short, I agree that for this committee to choose a day of truth and reconciliation would not be a good decision, but I firmly believe that choosing National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, to be a statutory holiday would be a better decision.

Thank you for your time.

Masi cho.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Thank you very much.

We will now go with Regional Chief Morley Googoo of the Assembly of First Nations.

[Regional Chief Morley Googoo, Regional Chief, Nova Scotia/Newfoundland and Labrador, Assembly of First Nations]

Thanks, everyone. Thanks for having me again.

[Witness speaks in indigenous language]

I'm very glad and honoured to have a chance here to discuss this, and I have two different messages in my presentation, one coming from my regional perspective and the other speaking on behalf of my national executive.

I encourage the building of relationships based on understanding and respect every day. I'm here to support the private member's bill brought forward by Ms. Jolibois.

Jolibois in Mi'kmaq means “don't make a face”. I was trying to rhyme it with that, but I still couldn't get it.

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

That's okay.

[Regional Chief Morley Googoo]

This bill is advocating for the creation of this national holiday. Creating a national statutory holiday for indigenous people will assist in promoting reconciliation. In my role as regional chief, I have seen first-hand the power of this day when we bring people together. We had the Grand-Pré peace and friendship gathering last year, where we brought together the Acadian community as one form of reconciliation—how would we interact, how can we know each other?

As Georgina talked about, not a lot of people come on the reserve to see it. They'd love the experience of our culture and our identity, but how do you get them exposed to it?

We brought it into a national park instead, and we had over 30,000 people attend. It was an amazing opportunity for us to have another group of society—allies—become more understanding of our stories. If we stay out of sight and out of mind, we will never get more dialogue going, and that's what needs to happen for a proper reconciliation in this country. We need to share education with each other.

Media coverage is largely focused on negative circumstances. First nations are facing suicide epidemics, a lack of affordable housing, higher food prices and a number of other critical issues. A study earlier this year by the Angus Reid Institute found 61% of Canadians are optimistic about the future of the relationship between indigenous people and Canadians. We just have to find spaces and spots and times in our busy lives to make sure we have time for this.

We said our commitments of 150 when we celebrated Canada 150 were only the start of the next Canada 150. It means deeper deposits of your commitment. Making days like this happen and not be an inconvenience is crucial. The inconvenience was us being stripped of our land, our culture and our identity. We need leadership in order for us to develop mutual respect and trust with each other. Leadership has to happen to make that firm investment in trust. It's really important that we follow through in the best way we can to cover all the 94 calls to action.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in the UN declaration, calls for all of these to have good input and feedback and work together to make sure that we have celebrations, we have information coming together, and we have investments of time like this so that we can eliminate the lack of education and the racism that's out there. I think it's important that we all take a collective approach to make this happen.

Several provinces and territories have already acknowledged the importance of having a day to celebrate indigenous peoples. In 2017, the Yukon government created legislation that led to June 21 becoming a statutory holiday. In the Northwest Territories, this day has been celebrated as a statutory territorial holiday for 18 years. This is not a new issue. The Assembly of First Nations has been calling for this legislation since 1982.

The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended a special day, and the Chiefs-in-Assembly have several resolutions speaking specifically to this matter. Among them is call to action number 80, which calls for the very measures outlined in this proposed bill. I am aware of Canada's recent commitment to declare a federal statutory holiday to mark the legacy of the residential school system. We will welcome an announcement and a date to honour the history of this period, as called for in the TRC calls to action.

I also want to share one other story. I had a phone call from two of my community members from Millbrook. I cover Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, with 13 communities in Nova Scotia. It was Linda Maloney and Matilda Bernard, a sister of Nora Bernard, who started a class action suit across the country. I said wherever I have an opportunity to share your point, I will do that, so this is why I'm breaking away from my notes. It's to make sure I listen to her notes instead.

She said, “Morley, if you can tell whoever is out there about the truth and reconciliation day, we're really happy, but it shouldn't happen on June 21, and it shouldn't happen on Orange Shirt Day.”

She said, “I'm not here to pick the date, but I'm here to tell you why. September is the time we all went away, when we had to leave our families, so September was not a good time for us. June was a happy time, when we were all going home and going to see our families. Rather than getting into a debate about June 21 or Orange Shirt Day, it's important that this fact be presented to whomever you can present it to ”

I just kept my word by doing that today.

I want to thank you guys too. It's important, again, that we can look at truth and reconciliation. Do we need another statutory holiday, and all that? I think we do. If you see a statue of Cornwallis in Halifax become a national issue and a lightning rod, it shows how much more investment we have to do and not be scared. Let the poison come out. Let's drown it out with a young generation of real leaders who are not going to be brainwashed with the old lack of education we got to achieve about indigenous people and the relationship.

We need to just be very proud and loud on how we can actually have reconciliation in the next 150 years, and not just in pieces of our speeches when Canada 150 was here.

That's all I have for that. Thanks so much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Thank you very much.

We're now going to begin our question-and-answer period. Because we started late, I spoke to the parties and I believe I have agreement to do it as a five-minute round as opposed to a seven-minute round.

We will begin with Mr. Vandal, please.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

First of all, thank you very much to Chief Googoo and MP Jolibois for your input. It's very important.

MP Jolibois, a specific thank you goes to you for the work that you have been doing on this and many files concerning indigenous peoples. It's very much appreciated.

First of all, the initiative is fantastic. Our government is committed to implementing all 84 calls to action, and this is one of them. The actual date that it will be is less about what I think or what you think or what we think in this room, but more about what the community thinks, what indigenous Canadians think.

MP Jolibois, who have you consulted with, prior to presenting this private member's bill?

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

My work around June 21 started in the 1990s when I was in Saskatoon. I started with the mayor and council, the chief in council from the Dakota Dunes area there, and then several elders and agencies. That's when my first work started on celebrations and planning around an aboriginal day.

Throughout the years and when I was—

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

What year was this?

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

It was in the early 1990s.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Okay.

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

It has carried on since then, so it has been around for a while.

Then when I became mayor, it was rewarding, because my council at the time supported celebrating, not a day off but the celebration and coming together on June 21.

I was the mayor for 12 years, from 2003 to 2015. Throughout the years, I've talked to politicians, agencies, and elders. The way I work, I always get input from elders wherever I go; and wherever I go, I talk to school-aged kids, teachers, even police officers, and everyone else. My conversations for many years have been inclusive of all in talking to Canadians across the country.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Have you talked to anyone from the Métis National Council or the Manitoba Metis Federation?

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

I have had discussion with the president, Clément Chartier, in the past about it, but to this day he hasn't given me a position as to whether he supports June 21 or a different date.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Okay.

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

However, I have talked to many Métis people across Canada, from those who are involved in Métis politics to the Métis residents.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Have you talked to the Inuit community, to ITK?

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Again, I have, but it was a brief encounter with ITK. I have talked to some residents from the Far North when I had a chance.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Okay.

In your presentation today you've stated that this is in the spirit of the calls to action—specifically call number 80. I have a media report from Senator Murray Sinclair, who says that a statutory holiday is necessary step for reconciliation. He feels that a statutory holiday in September would be the best way to accomplish that—something, I'm presuming, around Orange Shirt Day.

What are your thoughts on Senator Sinclair's thoughts?

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

The way my teachings have been over the years, and my discussions and the work that I've done, have led me to this position. Of course, my preference for this day—and I'm biased—is for June 21, but when we talk about a bigger picture, I support a day.

That's because the elders have taught me, and the youth and the families throughout the years, that it is about history. Canada's history has not been kind to indigenous people. It is full of pain. It is full of broken promises. It is full of heartbreak. The elders who have taught me throughout the years have said, “Here it is; we have a chance to heal and come together.” Canada—Saskatchewan or whatever—has a chance to come together to create a new legacy, build relationships and move forward.

Many of the indigenous people and indigenous communities that I know of are saying that we look at our history and it is too painful. We need the help to heal with them. We need the help to work on these issues. We also have an opportunity to move forward together. That's what we're looking for. I know many professional indigenous people across Canada who are working really hard within institutions promoting that legacy.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

That brings us to the end of your time.

We will be going to Mr. Shields, please, for five minutes.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I appreciate my colleague MP being here today talking about the history of Canada and the meaning of what you're proposing.

Just to clarify, this is a statutory holiday for federal employees only, at this point?

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

That is the point, yes.