Toronto – March 9, 2020 – UFCW Canada activists were recently on hand to celebrate Indigenous storytelling and self-determination at an event held by national partner Legal Education Action Fund (LEAF) and allies in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Over 600 participants filled the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema space in downtown Toronto to observe an engaging panel discussion led by renowned Indigenous rights activists Tanya Tagaq, Connie Walker, Maggie Wente and Tanya Talaga. Panelists spoke about the importance of allyship on Indigenous issues including land claim rights, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and violence faced by Indigenous communities resulting from systemic racism. Together, they shared perspectives on the effects of intergenerational trauma, and how it continues to impact Indigenous traditions as they looked to define some of the ways to move the next generation forward in both challenging injustice and staying connected to the land.

The powerful and thought-provoking panel also featured a discussion on the diversity of Indigenous identities. Connie Walker, award-winning Cree journalist and host of the podcast Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo, noted the importance of prioritizing Indigenous acknowledgement and representation in society.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, panelists called on attendees to continue highlighting and celebrating women diversity in society and to continue to learn about the challenges that continue to be faced by Indigenous women in Canada.

As Canada’s leading union, UFCW is committed to achieving Indigenous justice and advancing Indigenous rights in Canada. To learn more about the union’s work in this area or to find out how you can advance Reconciliation in your workplace and community, visit UFCW Canada’s Reconciliation webpage. And to learn more about our union’s efforts advocating for women’s right, visit the UFCW Canada Women and Gender Equity page.