Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

The Public Service Alliance of Canada joins the Assembly of First Nations’ call for a National Day of Action in Support of First Nations on May 29, 2008.

The National Day of Action is an opportunity for First Nations and Canadians to stand together in a spirit of unity to support a better life for all First Nations and Aboriginal peoples, according to the AFN.

PSAC supports the AFN’s call for the federal government to work with First Nations to create a better future for all First Nations children by eradicating First Nations poverty – which many recognize as the greatest social injustice in Canada.

The situation couldn’t be more urgent:

• One in four First Nations children live in poverty.
• First Nations youth commit suicide at five to eight times the Canadian rate as a result of poverty and despair.
• Mould contaminates almost half of all First Nations homes.
• Diabetes among First Nations people is at least three times the national average.
• Close to one in four First Nations communities are under boil drinking water advisories.
• First Nations suffer from Third World diseases such as tuberculosis at eight to 10 times the rate of Canadians in general.
• More than half of First Nations people are not employed.
• High school graduation rates for First Nations youth are half the Canadian rate.
• More than half of First Nations people are under 23 years of age. If poverty is not addressed today, it will continue to negatively impact First Nations families and communities into the future.

PSAC’s National Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis Network (NAIM) met in Ottawa in April 2008, endorsing four priority resolutions that it will bring to PSAC’s first National Aboriginal Peoples’ Conference in September 2008: improving Aboriginal union education, making Aboriginal poverty history, fighting for access to clean water for all Aboriginal peoples and pressuring the Canadian government to endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

“The Assembly of First Nations is promoting education, awareness, and action through peaceful rallies across the country. We encourage PSAC members to take part,” said John Gordon, PSAC National President. “The National Day of Action is an opportunity for all Canadians and Aboriginal peoples to stand together in support of a better life for First Nations people.”

A report from our northern correspondent: In Yellowknife, PSAC members attending the Health & Safety Conference and Regional Convention marched and rallied in solidarity with local aboriginal groups.

Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, REVP North, spoke at the rally where he said “The Public Service Alliance of Canada is proud to stand in solidarity with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters to voice concerns about their situation in Canada today. The poverty experienced by Aboriginal people is one of the greatest social injustices in Canada, and we support calling upon the federal government to live up to its responsibilities to improve their lives”.

Here are some photos …