ON Wednesday – Orange Shirt Day – the BC NDP said it recognizes the importance of raising awareness about the individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of Indian Residential Schools.

“We all share the responsibility of reconciliation,” said BC NDP Leader John Horgan. “Today, we recognize and name the harmful legacy of residential schools and systemic racism to Indigenous peoples, and honour the resilience of survivors and communities. Today we wear orange to show our commitment to meaningful reconciliation. Because every child matters.

“We need to confront the systemic racism that hurt so many — and still continues to harm people to this day — and instead make sure every child in BC has a future full of hope and opportunity.”

To begin addressing the historical wrongs caused by the residential school system, the BC NDP said it implemented a new K-12 curriculum that makes sure all children in BC are taught about Indigenous cultures and history, and dedicated $50 million toward the work of First Nations communities to revitalize Indigenous languages. 

A year ago today, Horgan and the BC NDP government committed to supporting the Daylu Dena Council and the community in Lower Post in their plans to demolish the former residential school and build a new meeting place for their communities. 

Under Horgan and the BC NDP, BC is the first province to pass legislation to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The province established a long-term agreement to guarantee 25 years of revenue sharing with First Nations, and is the first and only province to fund on-reserve housing.

And there is so much more work to do, the BC NDP said.

Read more about John Horgan’s visit to the former residential school in Lower Post and his meeting with the Taku River Tlingit, Tahltan and Kaska Dena First Nations.