SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Allies on the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples

Honourable senators, today I pay tribute to the allies on the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples. As you remember, I previously paid tribute to the First Nations, Métis and Inuit members of the Indigenous Peoples Committee. The Indigenous Peoples Committee is a hard-working committee that is credible, passionate, spiritual, ethical and responsible.

Choosing to be an ally is not easy. It takes a commitment to your learning, a commitment to spending time building relationships and a commitment to understanding the issues that need to be addressed. Being an ally requires compassion, and they are not immune to the pain of witnessing the inequities that First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples experience. They take their advocacy to committee meetings, schools and universities, penitentiaries and communities, as well as in the public forum, on the Senate floor and internationally to the United Nations as well as other countries.

Allies are more about action than words. In their hard work over many years, including before becoming senators, they have acted on the knowledge that First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples belong and have immeasurable value to Canada. Allies have supported some of the biggest changes in Canada, and it would have taken us longer to achieve those goals without your support. Kinanâskomitinawow.

Allies see a country that prides itself on defending human rights yet doesn’t do it at home. We have allies in the Senate in the areas of over-incarceration; human rights violations; self‑government, including identity; youth concerns; health inequities; systemic and institutional racism; and the list goes on. In the unique case of Canada, First Nations and Inuit faced and survived generations of legislated racism and segregation, so it is even more challenging.

But how do you maintain your energy and commitment? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” An ally brings hope in the darkest days and is ready to act when asked. I have witnessed this personally.

I thank Senators McPhedran, Pate, Tannas, Sorensen and Clement for the inspiration you give us, and a special mention goes to Senator McPhedran and Senator Pate for all your years of advocacy for women’s rights and for being my rocks.

Kinanâskomitinawow.