“Today, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, along with Canadians across the country, acknowledge the harmful history of residential schools and the deep pain and trauma they caused. We have a responsibility to reflect on our collective history of colonialism and genocide, to remember the children who never returned home, and to honour survivors, their families, and their communities.
“While we can never fully understand the depth of harm caused by colonialism, we must listen to Indigenous voices, learn from their experiences, and ensure those voices are heard and respected. We must confront the truth of our history, learn from the past, and take meaningful action to ensure these harms are never repeated.”
“The path to reconciliation must be one of justice and truth. That means fully implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S report. It means ending systemic discrimination in housing, healthcare, education, and child welfare.”
“For our province, it also means adopting UNDRIP – something the NL NDP has continued to call for. It means this government apologizing to the Innu of Nitassinan who have been here far longer than 300 years, for institutionally trying to rewrite their history. It means meaningful consultations with Indigenous leaders and elders about developments and mega-projects going forward on their land, impacting their livelihoods. Apologizing for residentials schools is one thing, but we know actions speak louder than words. And without action, those words mean nothing.”
“Truth and reconciliation requires more than rhetoric – it requires listening to Indigenous voices, respecting Indigenous knowledge, and ensuring Indigenous peoples are the ones helping shape how their histories, cultures, and stories are represented in our public institutions.”