Special Statement from Minister Andrew Carrier on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2024

Winnipeg, MB, in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis - Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we, the Red River Métis, led by the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), join Indigenous Nations across Canada and Canadians from all walks of life to reflect on the tragic legacy of Residential Schools. It is a day for remembering and honouring those children who were stolen from their families, many of whom never returned home. It is also a day for recognizing the resilience of our survivors and the ongoing work of healing and reconciliation.

The Red River Métis carry the scars of Residential Schools, Day Schools, and the Sixties Scoop, with our experiences too often overlooked. Today, we affirm our commitment to seeking justice and recognition for our missing children. Through the project Pekiiwetatanaan nutr zanfaan leur zisprii (We Are Bringing Our Children's Spirit Home), under the federal government's "Residential School Missing Children Community Support Program," we are determined to locate and honour those Red River Métis children who never made it back to their families.

This work is painful, but it is essential. It is about healing the intergenerational wounds inflicted by colonial systems and restoring the dignity of our children, who were taken from us. We call on all governments to continue investing in initiatives that support the truth and reconciliation process, not only for the Red River Métis but for all Indigenous Nations. Stable and predictable funding is critical to advancing the work of identifying unmarked graves, preserving burial sites, and ensuring culturally appropriate support for the families and communities that are impacted.

Today, we not only mourn the children we lost but celebrate the strength and courage of our survivors. The path toward reconciliation is long, but through unity, perseverance, and the recognition of our shared histories, we will build a future that honours the truth and restores justice.

As we observe this solemn day, let us remember that every Red River Métis Child Matters. Let us stand together, committed to the process of truth, healing, and reconciliation, ensuring that the sacrifices and struggles of our children, survivors, and communities are never forgotten.

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For more information, media may contact:
Kat Patenaude
Media Relations Advisor
Manitoba Métis Federation
204-801-7710
Kat.Patenaude@mmf.mb.ca

Believe in Yourself; Believe in Métis.

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is the democratically elected National Government of the Red River Métis, also known as the Manitoba Métis. The Red River Métis are a distinct Indigenous Nation and People and Canada's Negotiating Partners in Confederation and the Founders of the Province of Manitoba.

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