National Indigenous Council

CUPE is committed to equality, justice, full inclusion and the right to self-government for all Indigenous peoples. We have a proud history of supporting First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We work to increase the participation of Indigenous peoples in our union, and to promote and defend their rights broadly.

When Lynn Serhan tells her coworkers and family kisâkihitin, which is Cree for “I love you,” it’s an act of resistance and hope. Learn why in this story, part of our series profiling members of the National Indigenous Council and National Racial Justice Committee.

“I get inspired by the issues with our band that I bring to CUPE,” says National Indigenous Council co-chair Brandice Blanchard. Learn how Blanchard connects union and community in this profile, part of a series sharing the stories of members of the National Indigenous Council and National Racial Justice Committee.

“Our union is diverse, our people are workers, they need to be represented. If we’re not making space for them to be safe or if they are being hurt in these spaces, they’re never going to get involved. So we need to make sure that we’re making space for all of these people and that their voices are heard. Not only the executives, but we’re making sure that we’re hearing from members directly also.”

Angela Ross has always stood up for others. “Then I found out you could be a shop steward,” says the member of CUPE’s National Indigenous Council. Read where getting involved in CUPE has taken her in this profile, part of a series sharing the stories of members of the National Indigenous Council and National Racial Justice Committee.

As an Indigenous woman, getting involved with CUPE has been a powerful experience for Kimberley Loppie. “CUPE allowed me to find my truth, who I am,” she says. Learn where that’s taken her in this profile, one of a series sharing the stories of National Indigenous Council and National Racial Justice Committee members.

A single convention resolution opened the door to a profound journey for CUPE 403 member Konrad Beston. “It changed my life,” he says of the resolution encouraging locals to add a seat on their executive boards for an Indigenous member. Learn where that took him in this profile, one of a series about members of CUPE’s National Indigenous Council and National Racial Justice Committee.

When someone believes in you, it can change everything. Louise Watson brings that lesson into her work at the Regina detox centre where she got sober. Get to know Louise in this story, one in a series profiling members of the National Indigenous Council and the National Racial Justice Committee.

For Jennifer Smith, there’s before WILD, and there’s after WILD. Being part of CUPE Ontario’s first Women in Leadership Development program in 2022 transformed her and the other participants. “When we joined, we were quiet. When we left, we were loud,” she says.