In honour of National Anishinaabe Day, Garden River issued a statement on Sunday morning.
Following is a full text of the statement:
Chief Andy Rickard on behalf of Council, our Elders and citizens of Garden River First Nation asks that we bring our hearts and minds together on National Anishinaabe Day (Indigenous People's Day) to acknowledge our existence on Mother Earth and our story of resilience.
Although COVID-19 restrictions have impacted our summer celebrations, it will not dampen our spirits and sacred ways of honouring our ancestors who have gone on before us and stood up for our treaty rights and freedoms. We also acknowledge Chiefs Gary Potts of Temagami and Chief Ron Boissoneau of Garden River who put a resolution at the Chiefs of Ontario assembly to set this day aside for our voices to be heard and our existence to be celebrated.
Today we must also stand against systemic racism by supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and the brutal death of George Floyd and the killings of Chantelle Moore and Rodney Levi. Their legacy proves that systemic racism is alive and well and compassion needed to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination that our people and other minorities face every day.
The road to healing and reconciliation will not be achieved until the Canadian federation develops a national action plan with meaningful outcomes to overcome this dark time. Moreover, this effort must be led by the First Peoples of Turtle Island.
Let's place our tobacco down and over our prayers for peace and wellbeing of all peoples.
Lastly, happy Anishinaabe People's Day, Happy Father's Day, Happy Pride and Happy Summer Solstice!
Chi-Meegwetch and please continue to practice safety measures as we continue to fight this pandemic.