Aboriginal Day of Action facts for kids
The Indigenous Day of Action is a special day when Indigenous people in Canada come together to show their concerns and ask for changes. It started on June 29, 2007, as the "Aboriginal Day of Action," and since then, it has become an annual event held across the country every year on June 29. It's a way for Indigenous communities to speak up about important issues that affect their lives.
What Happened on the First Day of Action?
On June 29, 2007, many events took place across Canada. People organized peaceful protests and demonstrations. Some of these events included:
- Briefly blocking major roads and train tracks in places like Eastern Ontario, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, Windsor, and near the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border.
- Important roads like Highway 401 near Tyendinaga were affected.
- Train lines, such as the Via Rail route from Toronto to Montreal, also saw protests.
- The Mercier Bridge leading into Montreal was part of the demonstrations.
- Other roads like Highway 17 in places like McKerrow and Serpent River were included.
- The Huron Central Railway from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie and Muskoka Regional Road 38 at Bala were also sites of action.
These actions were carefully planned and worked closely with the police to ensure safety.
Why Did Indigenous People Protest?
The main reasons for the protests were to bring attention to several important issues faced by Indigenous communities:
- Poverty: Many Indigenous communities experience high levels of poverty.
- Land Claims: There was a lack of progress from the government on land claims, which are agreements about land that historically belonged to Indigenous peoples.
- Social Services: Concerns were raised about the quality of health and social service programs available to Indigenous people.
- Kelowna Accord: The federal government had cancelled an agreement called the Kelowna Accord. This agreement aimed to improve living conditions, health, and education for Indigenous peoples. Its cancellation was a major disappointment.
The Indigenous Day of Action is a way for Indigenous voices to be heard and to push for positive changes and fairness.
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