October 1, 2024

Check against delivery

The flag we stand under was designed in consultation with Survivors of the residential school system from across Canada.

It includes the Métis Sash, the Eagle Feather, and the Inukshuk, representing Métis, First Nations and Inuit peoples.

In my Inuit culture, Inuksuit are used as navigational guides when we are out on the land, helping to guide us home.

For Survivors, the flag does not only represent the suffering of the past. 

It also represents the values we cherish and the land we call home.

It represents the strength of Indigenous languages, cultures, and voices that have endured despite so many obstacles.

It represents the excellence of Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers, artists, and nature guardians who are thriving today, making invaluable contributions to our country.

This flag is a call to action for the future.

A call to learn.

A call to fight for justice and inclusion.

A call to build new, meaningful partnerships with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples so that we can all join forces to correct the record of history, and tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.

As someone who has built bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians throughout my career, I feel more and more hopeful.

I can see a future where an appreciation for Indigenous cultures and languages is at the heart of our national identity.

And I am proud to live in a country that continually strives for truth, respect and reconciliation.

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech. Nakurmik.