Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day, everyone!
One of our main goals at the UNB Student Union is to amplify the voices of our students. This Indigenous Peoples Day, we are sharing this post from the Meskeyi Student Society, as we strongly share their sentiments and believe that their voices are the ones that should be heard today.
“On this National Indigenous People’s day we want to celebrate everyone in the UNB Indigenous community and Indigenous peoples across Fredericton and all over the country.
The love, community, wisdom, brilliance, and kindness built into every Indigenous space is worth far more than just one day, and with each day that passes we see the fruits of how integral Indigenous perspectives and experiences are to the future of Turtle Island, the earth, and our families.
We hope that this day grants us all the chance to celebrate Indigenous peoples en masse with beauty, respect, & honour, and we look forward to finding new and exciting ways to celebrate Indigenous identity all year round on campus in collaboration with the ForEM department, UNB, and the Indigenous Student Council as well as our partners, alumni, and community members.
We may not be able to see each of you today, but we are sending thoughts of song, dance, and joy your way. Thank you to each and every one of you involved in making this day bright and filled with pride, and thank you to each child, parent, and Elder teaching us all how to live well in even the little things that you do.”
- Meskeyi Student Society
National Indigenous Peoples Day started in 1996 and is a day that we believe all people should take to celebrate Indigenous people, perspectives, and experiences, and to reflect on how each of us can better pursue the principles of reconciliation.
However, these sentiments should not be unique to one day a year. Reconciliation should be a part of our everyday lives. As a Union, we will work to amplify the voices of Indigenous students and to ensure that our work and the student experience reflects the needs and perspectives of the Indigenous community at UNB.
Some resources you should check out:
Gallery on Queen is currently presenting an exhibition “Wabanaki”, which showcases various Indigenous artists and mediums. This exhibition is on until July 10th, 2021.
Spotify has curated this playlist of music by Indigenous artists: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWYrH4yMJbkL8?si=08c1807d3f674c63
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/read-lire.html
Books by Indigenous Authors:
In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier
NDN Coping Mechanisms by Billy-Ray Belcourt
On/Me by Francine Cunningham
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott
Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
Peace and Good Order by Harold B. Johnson
If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie with Nahanni Shingoose
Searching for…Inuktitut Style and Learning and Preserving by Breana Andrews
In My Own Moccasins by Helen Knott
Bones by Tyler Pennock
Instagram Accounts:
@indigenousclimateaction
@wolastoqeducation
@fallonfarinacci
@unbmwc
@lnuey.ca
@wetsuweten_checkpoint
@indigenouswomenrising
@reclaimyourpower