Banner march supports Canadian aboriginal rights
OTTAWA, ON �" More than 300 people marched to Parliament Hill this summer, carrying banners from churches and groups across Canada, affirming aboriginal rights.
The June 20 event was held as part of Roll With the Declaration, organized by KAIROS. The national campaign aimed to raise awareness of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada signed in November 2010. They called on the government to live up to its commitment to address the “unique challenges" which Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Métis people face.
Ahead of the march, KAIROS staff, indigenous community leaders, and volunteers rode “banner trains" across Canada, collecting the banners. Churches, indigenous groups, faith-based ministries and community organizations took part.
Jennifer Henry, KAIROS' manager for dignity and rights, says “I think, if you look at the time, the creativity, the thoughtfulness that went into the banners it's a pretty significant declaration of the support of Canadians for the implementation of the United Nations declaration."
Each banner represents both the traditional aboriginal territory where the group was based, as well as a commitment to the United Nations declaration.
“People had to take the time to do the research," Henry says. “It was a process of depth, which required commitment, and represented hope for change in the Canadian communities that these folks brought banners from."
Some 28 community events were also held across Canada as part of the Roll With the Declaration campaign, including some held at train stations when the banners were collected.
“What indigenous people really need to know is that this isn't going to be just another piece of paper that isn't lived out," Henry adds. “So we want the Canadian government to know that we're going to hold them accountable to seeing real change across the country."
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