Make Truth and Reconciliation Day a Yukon Statutory Holiday: Yukon NDP
September 29, 2022
Whitehorse, YT — The Yukon NDP will soon table a Private Member’s Bill in the Legislature that would make National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) a statutory holiday in the Yukon.
Making NDTR a statutory holiday was included in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, one among many that the Yukon and Federal Liberal governments have failed to implement.
“There is much to be done to acknowledge the ongoing effects of colonization and the legacy of residential schools on Indigenous people, and to honour the survivors and those who did not get to come home. Making September 30th a Yukon statutory holiday would make space and time to come together as a community to honour survivors and those who can’t be with us today,” the NDP’s Annie Blake, MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin, said Tuesday, Sept. 29.
In the government’s consultation report, a clear majority of Yukoners were in favour of making this day a statutory day.
“Last year, the government blamed a lack of time. A year later, we’ve yet to see concrete action from this government to allow community members to participate in this day as part of the reconciliation process. That’s why the Yukon NDP has decided to table a Private Members’ Bill to make this happen,” party leader Kate White said.
“I call on the Liberal government to make funding available for community initiatives so that we as a territory can mark this day with programming, events and education. This is a day to honour survivors and those who didn’t get to come home, as well as their families and loved ones. This is a day to tell stories. This is also a day to put reconciliation into action,” Blake added.
As per last year, the Yukon NDP Caucus will donate their statutory holiday pay to a local Indigenous organization.
The Caucus encourages all Yukoners who can to do the same by donating to community organizations like the Committee on Abuse in Indian Residential Schools (CAIRS), or the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRS).
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