Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day, recognizing the heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Scott Tate is a Metis citizen and member of Chatham-Kent’s Indigenous Social Planning and Action Table, and says the potential silver lining recent discoveries of unmarked graves at residential schools is an increase in awareness.
“It’s kind of like the Cree teaching of which wolf do you feed,” Tate says. “Do you feed that angry wolf within you, or do you feed the wolf that wants to help and wants to care and wants to celebrate. I think it’s so important that we turn towards the positive. Yes, we have things to address, but I think equally important is the celebration.”
Tate says there’s already a lot of work going on in Chatham-Kent to provide support for First Nations residents, including a pair of Indigenous Peer Navigators working in Chatham to help local First Nations access health care and other social services.
“We’re hoping to find the funds to hire somebody for Wallaceburg, because we have a lot of our Indigenous families in the Wallaceburg area. We just need to find the sponsorship to have that.”
An online event, Celebrating Original Peoples Day in CK, runs from noon until 5pm today. For more information and to register, email info@skanaflc.com.
