Dear members, 

We are deeply saddened by the news of the discovery of at least 600 unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Marieval Indian Residential School. On behalf of SGEU, our thoughts are with the people of Treaty 4, Cowessess First Nation, and everyone whose loved ones were lost to the residential school system.

While celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day mere days ago, we felt a sense of hope for the future of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people in Canada. Today, that hope and optimism is weighed down by the reminder of the tremendous amount of suffering and loss we still have to reckon with. We know this is unlikely to be the last such discovery in Canada or Saskatchewan and that the pain of Saskatchewan’s colonial past is far from healed. But as our province grapples with the revelations of the staggering numbers of deaths that occurred at residential schools, we must keep moving forward. SGEU recommits itself to the ideals of justice, equality, and reconciliation that are core to the labour movement.

We want to remind the survivors of residential schools, and their families, that a 24-crisis line is available by calling 1-866-925-4419.

In solidarity, 

Hali Topinka
SGEU Indigenous Vice-President

Tracey Sauer
SGEU President