Statement from the Alberta Federation of Labour

EDMONTON – June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This special day occurs on the summer solstice and is a time for reflection and celebration. The AFL encourages everyone to recognize the many diverse cultures and significant achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people here in our province and across the country. There are events you can find happening in your local community that we encourage you to attend! You can also immerse yourself in learning and celebration throughout the year by visiting some of the many places across Alberta that feature Indigenous Peoples culture, heritage and arts.

Throughout the month of June, we celebrate National Indigenous History Month. The opportunities for engagement are plentiful and we encourage everyone to take time to participate in activities that provide inspiration, education, appreciation and understanding. Taking time to learn about Indigenous Peoples, their experiences and contributions to our communities is a first step towards reconciliation.

The Alberta Federation of Labour takes the principles of Truth and Reconciliation seriously. We are continually looking for ways to take concrete actions towards reconciliation, including building stronger relationships with our Indigenous family, friends, and communities, as well as, spending dedicated time as an organization learning and reflecting.

We understand that the injustices suffered by Indigenous Peoples are rooted in systemic racism. We at the AFL have recently committed to weekly staff-led learning sessions where we seek to unpack and understand our role in addressing systemic racism and inequality. All forms of racism and discrimination are unacceptable and as we continue with this new initiative at the AFL, we actively seek to learn more about root causes and solutions to combat discrimination of all kinds.

We know that this work is important and needs to be ongoing and deliberate. By strengthening our intentional approach to systemic racism and relationship building with Indigenous communities, in a good way, we at the AFL hope to put more action behind our values. We encourage others to do so as well.

In Solidarity.

The Alberta Federation of Labour