TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - On Tuesday, November 22, 2016, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas addressed First Nations Leaders from across Ontario who are meeting with Premier Kathleen Wynne and Ontario cabinet ministers this week at the "Leaders in the Legislature" event to discuss collaborative actions on First Nations priority issues such as community safety, education, community wellness, infrastructure and environment.
During his presentation, President Thomas introduced the OPSEU Indigenous Mobilizing Team, the latest OPSEU initiative to partner with First Nations communities. This initiative aims to build an effective and respectful partnership that will implement the 94 recommendations contained in the Truth and Reconciliation Report Call to Action and will hold accountable the government and the people of Canada.
"Our union can play a part in the truth and reconciliation process by adopting these recommendations within our negotiated contract agreements," said Thomas. "Take for example the first recommendation, child care: let's demand that all social workers and agencies be trained in accurate true Indigenous history."
This latest initiative, the Indigenous Mobilizing Team, is an outgrowth of the first biennial OPSEU Indigenous Conference held in Cornwall, Ontario September 30-October 2, 2016. The conference was a true partnership between the OPSEU Indigenous Circle and the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne. It joins other OPSEU Truth and Reconciliation initiatives that include:
Krista Maracle, Chair of the OPSEU Indigenous Circle, reminds us that "Indigenous communities already know what an effective strategy of healing and reconciliation would look like. They just need partners to help make it a reality. These initiatives are about OPSEU stepping up to be such a partner.''
The Indigenous Mobilizing Team is composed of three OPSEU Indigenous members who have as their mandate to engage with Ontario First Nation communities and Bands, agencies, and governing bodies in ways that best represents the full interests of Indigenous OPSEU members.
"This is one step in a long journey to honour those that passed and those that have not been born. It is time. We don't have to wait for governments to start; reconciliation can and should start with all of us," adds Darlene Kaboni, member of the Indigenous Mobilizing Team. Kaboni is from Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation.
SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)
Image with caption: "Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) (CNW Group/Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161123_C5773_PHOTO_EN_825324.jpg
Image with caption: "Chiefs of Ontario (CNW Group/Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161123_C5773_PHOTO_EN_825326.jpg
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931; Jamie Monastyrski, Director of Communications, Chiefs of Ontario, 807-630-7087, [email protected]; Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8, www.opseu.org; Chiefs of Ontario, 111 Peter Street, Suite 804, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, www.chiefs-of-ontario.org
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is one of the most progressive and powerful unions in Ontario. It represents 165,000 frontline workers who provide a vast array of public services in communities across the province. They work in provincial government...
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