The Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council stands in solidarity with the family of Chantel Moore. Chantel’s death has brought to light what we all know, that systemic racism is alive and continues to grow roots here in Canada.
Chantel Moore, a 26-year old woman from Tia-o-qui-aht First Nation was shot 5 times during a wellness check according to news outlets. There continues to be a pattern of police violence against Indigenous peoples in Canada.
We need to work together. We must take guidance from the Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations, commitments from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Report to reverse this pattern. Police forces in Canada must become part of the solution, not remain the problem.
Our hearts also go out to the family of George Floyd. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of colour and we are asking our allies to no longer remain silent and to help us address the systemic racism across Turtle Island.
Despite the racial turmoil of the last few weeks, a number of people, including the Premier of Ontario, Rob Ford, have spoken publicly to say that here is little or no systemic racism in Canada.
As Onkwehon:we, we know differently and are no stranger to systemic racism and oppression. We are not strangers to fighting for our survival either. We celebrate ‘every child matters’ because they do! For decades we have been fighting to improve the lives of our people and a system of opposition that devalues our lives, especially our children.
Over the last week, we have witnessed thousands of peaceful individuals stand up against systemic racism, economic inequality and policing of opposition that are detrimental to us as First Nations People. To all these people, regardless of race, we stand with you. We continue to support you.
“We unmistakably understand the injustices that one race can inflict on the other. The horrific legacy of Indian Residential Schools and the Day Schools systems are deep rooted within all of us. We stand behind the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. The challenge to our societies, and to families, and as individual people is to positively influence the necessary change. We have to do better and it has to start here at home,” stated Chief Mark Hill.
Six Nation Elected Council would like it to be known this is not about apologies or handouts; we are looking for a commitment to be better from those who continue to benefit from these systems of opposition to work with us, side by side, to dismantle them.
