Letter to the Honourable Chuck Strahl Urging the Government to Designate National Aboriginal Day, June 21, as a Statutory Holiday

By mail and email

Honourable Chuck Strahl
Minister of Indian and Northern Development
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Honourable Strahl:

I am writing to you on behalf of the 54,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to urge you to immediately enact legislation designating June 21, National Aboriginal Day as a statutory holiday.

Marking June 21 as National Aboriginal Day would give us an opportunity to reflect on the important contributions First Nations, Aboriginal, and Métis people have made.  It would allow us an opportunity to look at the history of Aboriginal people, to celebrate parts of this history, and to vow never to allow certain aspects of this history to reoccur.

We have many important statutory holidays that reflect on the fabric of this land.  Adding June 21, National Aboriginal Day to this list would enrich that fabric and acknowledge much of its roots.

In conclusion, please take the important step of enacting legislation designating June 21 as a statutory holiday.

Yours truly,

Denis Lemelin
National President

 

cc:

National Executive Board
Regions and Locals
National Human Rights Committee