CUPE stands in solidarity with Indigenous nations, communities and organizations and is committed to continuing to work towards reconciliation, and to respect our ongoing treaty relationships.
As part of our ongoing efforts to foster reconciliation in our workplaces and communities, we encourage all members to participate in National Indigenous Peoples Day by sharing in events on the day. But we can do more. CUPE encourages members to take time to learn and reflect on the ongoing harm caused by colonialism and Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples.
Water is life
CUPE’s Water is life campaign shows how members can listen, learn and act to ensure access to clean water for all Indigenous peoples. The campaign provides educational tools to raise awareness about the lack of access to clean drinking water in many Indigenous communities, and provides ways to mobilize to solve these problems and protect this vital resource.
Consult the campaign resources to learn more about:
- The reality of Indigenous communities still living without clean drinking water.
- The impact of environmental racism and environmental disasters on Indigenous people in Canada, and their access to safe drinking water.
- The vital community organizing work that different Indigenous communities have engaged in to prevent environmentally racist policies and projects, and to restore their communities following environmental disaster.
What CUPE locals and members can do:
Educate:
- Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report and consider how you can support the calls to action.
- Invite a speaker to your next virtual or in person meeting to talk about truth and reconciliation.
- CUPE is developing a new suite of Indigenous Cultural Safety workshops that will be available in 2025; ask about our Truth & Reconciliation workshop available now.
- Read CUPE’s response to the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Bargain:
Use CUPE’s Truth and Reconciliation bargaining guide to bargain language supporting Indigenous workers into collective agreements.
Act:
- Acknowledge Indigenous territory at all your meetings and reach out and forge partnerships with local Indigenous communities and organizations.
- Keep pressure on the federal government to implement their action plan to address the findings of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
- Take the steps outlined in Walking the talk: A practical guide to reconciliation for CUPE locals to better include Indigenous members in our union and take concrete action towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
