AUPE marks National Aboriginal Day today
EDMONTON – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees urges all members to celebrate National Aboriginal Day today by considering the contributions to Canadian society of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
“We recognize the immense contributions to Canada and Alberta made by Aboriginal peoples and their cultures on this national day of celebration,” said AUPE President Doug Knight.
“We also want to use this occasion to express our sincere hope that the recent apology by the Government of Canada to Aboriginal victims of the residential school system will mark the beginning of a new era in positive relations between Aboriginal people and all levels of government and Canadian society,” Knight said.
June 21 was declared National Aboriginal Day by then Governor General Roméo LeBlanc in 1996. The date was chosen because of its proximity to the summer solstice, which this year occurred yesterday but often falls on June 21.