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Every Child Matters.

September 29, 2023

A Message from the Executive Director:

September 30th marks a critical remembrance in our nation’s history – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s a day when we pause to listen to the voices of our Indigenous communities and to remember the painful chapter of residential schools. We must come together to recognize the significance of this day and our collective responsibility in the process of healing and reconciliation. 

This day serves as a reminder of the thousands of Indigenous children who were taken from their families, cultures, and languages, leaving a lasting impact on their communities and future generations.

As a mom of two young kids, I reflect on this day with a feeling of tense anxiety and consuming sadness, empathizing with mothers and caregivers who faced the removal of their children. Acknowledging that I will never fully understand the depth of this trauma, my heart is with all families today. 

At Manitoba Building Trades, two of our core values are dignity and collaboration. We believe in a responsibility to each other. We believe in community well-being and the role that a worker’s right to a safe, healthy, and equitable workplace plays within that. Today, we renew our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #92. 

In brief, TRC #92 states that the corporate/non-profit sector must also do its part in respecting indigenous rights, incorporating the TRC principles, norms, and standards into organizational policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources.

At MBT, we are dedicated to involving Indigenous peoples in the workforce by advocating for and providing equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the construction sector. We are making sure our members have an understanding of Indigenous history and culture, especially when working on development projects which take place on Indigenous territory. 

We ask that all of our members, and every Manitoban, honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Take a moment for personal reflection and education about the history and legacy of residential schools. Let’s use this day as an opportunity for personal growth and solidarity with Indigenous communities as we work towards a more just and compassionate Manitoba together. Our combined efforts can build a brighter, more inclusive future for everyone.


Warm regards,

 

Tanya Palson 
Executive Director
Manitoba Building Trades

 

Manitoba Building Trades is located on the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. We respect the treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge our participation in an industry that has excluded Indigenous communities from economic prosperity, and we dedicate ourselves to creating shared prosperity in a spirit of reconciliation, collaboration, and partnership.