National Day of Action, June 29, 2007

Citizens for Public Justice supports the call by the Assembly of First Nations “for First Nations and Canadians to stand together in a spirit of unity to support a better life for all First Nations peoples” and to work to put an end to poverty among aboriginal people. The National Day of Action through educational events and peaceful protests is meant to provide an opportunity for such standing together.

For decades, Citizens for Public Justice has worked to realize more just relations among aboriginal people and non-aboriginal people in Canada. CPJ has done this in many ways, including:

• Intervening in the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline debate in the 1970s and calling for a moratorium on development until land claims were settled;
• Working towards a resolution of the claims of the Anishnabai of Grassy Narrows, the Lubicon Cree of Northern Alberta, the Ingenika of Northern BC, among others
• Publishing two editions of Nation to Nation: Aboriginal Sovereignty and the Future of Canada
• Producing Wiciwetowin, a study and action resource kit for faith communities to advance aboriginal rights
• Publishing Building international awareness on Aboriginal Issues, a resource exploring international avenues for promoting aboriginal rights in Canada
• Putting forward a principled and innovative position in favour of the Nisga’a treaty during the BC referendum on the treaty
• Supporting numerous aboriginal rights initiatives.

Citizens for Public Justice has consistently maintained that establishing right relations between aboriginal peoples and the non-aboriginal people of Canada is a cornerstone for achieving public justice in Canada.

CPJ encourages Canadians from all across the country to send a clear message to our elected leaders that our governments – particularly the federal government – must speed up the process for the just resolution of outstanding land claims, provide a fair level of resources for aboriginal health and education and honour treaties as well as solemn agreements such as the Kelowna Accord.

Let the National Day of Action be an important step toward ending aboriginal poverty, supporting a better life for all aboriginal people and for building a more just Canada.