OTTAWA —
Greater than 500 folks marched by downtown Ottawa on Saturday, calling for an unbiased investigation into Canada’s residential faculties.
“We march for justice and fact right this moment however it’s just the start,” mentioned NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq.
The MP for Nunavut and NDP MP Charlie Angus organized the “March for Reality and Justice” on Parliament Hill and in downtown Ottawa.
In a submit on Instagram, Qaqqaq mentioned the march will “demand an unbiased investigation into Canada’s crimes towards Indigenous Peoples. Sufficient is sufficient: (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau and (Minister of Justice) David Lametti have to cease making excuses and be certain that we have now a particular prosecutor.”
On Parliament Hill, Qaqqaq mentioned the march is being held so, “Our kids should not sitting right here as elders asking for his or her fundamental human rights.”
“We have to cease being so egocentric. This isn’t about us, that is about our kids, that is about people who lived and proceed to dwell by horrors, by traumas. That is larger than this and that is just the start.”
NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq says she is marching as a result of she doesn’t need our kids protesting right here once they’re elders calling for fundamental human rights. pic.twitter.com/HyOCpJaA9O
— Creeson Agecoutay (@CreesonCTV) July 31, 2021
After listening to speeches on Parliament Hill, the rally walked to the Prime Minister’s Workplace and the Division of Justice chanting “No Justice, No Peace!”
“Flip over these paperwork, expose these males. That is why we’re right here,” mentioned Angus, accusing the federal authorities of hiding church paperwork.
MP Charlie Angus needs these concerned in residential faculties to face justice. He says the Liberals are hiding church paperwork and needs all of those folks to face justice. “Their legacy is completed we’d like justice from this constructing, that is why we’re right here.” pic.twitter.com/FIkqR67fSh
— Creeson Agecoutay (@CreesonCTV) July 31, 2021
Claire Sackaney from James Bay Cree First Nation mentioned she hopes the march will push the dialog ahead to search out fact and justice for everybody concerned.
“We have been making an attempt to talk up for years, centuries and but we’ve not been heard till these youngsters had been discovered.”
Standing in entrance of the Prime Minister’s Workplace on Wellington Road, Qaqqaq known as for an unbiased investigation into Canada’s residential faculties.
“We march as a result of we all know this isn’t proper,” mentioned Qaqqaq. “We march to proper that mistaken, to satisfy that injustice for our folks and ourselves.”
On July 8, Qaqqaq and Angus known as for the federal authorities to appointment a particular prosecutor to analyze Canada’s residential faculties after the invention of a whole lot of unmarked graves in school websites throughout the nation.
“How do you spell racist?? RCMP! After I say water, you say again! Water again! Water again! After I say youngsters you say again, youngsters again!” The marchers chant. pic.twitter.com/W4x5uBvigZ
— Creeson Agecoutay (@CreesonCTV) July 31, 2021
In an announcement to CTV Information Ottawa, Lametti mentioned the federal authorities is dedicated to working with Indigenous communities throughout Canada.
“I’ve held frank and productive discussions with Indigenous leaders concerning the subsequent steps the federal government must take to assist Indigenous communities, significantly survivors and their households, following the horrific discovery of graves in Kamloops and Marieval,” mentioned Lametti on Saturday.
“Our authorities is dedicated to working with affected Indigenous communities throughout Canada to guard graves and burial websites utilizing all out there measures, together with the felony legislation.”
Lametti additionally addressed requires a particular prosecutor to analyze Canada’s residential faculties.
“Whereas I would not have the authority to provoke felony investigations, as that is an unique energy of the police, we’ll contemplate all choices that can permit the survivors, their communities and the nation to maneuver ahead on the trail to therapeutic and reconciliation,” mentioned Lametti.
With information from CTV Information Creeson Agecoutay and the Canadian Press.
