UTFA grieves the loss of 215 Indigenous children following the discovery of remains found at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. We mourn the deaths of these children in solidarity with their families and Indigenous communities.
The legacy of colonialism and racism in Canada is painful and ongoing. UTFA recognizes the reality that this tragic discovery is further evidence of Canada’s genocide of Indigenous peoples. We must acknowledge not just Canada’s history of systemic racism against Indigenous people but the current systemic barriers that disproportionately impact Indigenous communities.
We believe that faculty, librarians, and post-secondary institutions have an important role in advancing the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
UTFA recognizes that considerable work needs to be done in order to meaningfully advance these calls to action. We encourage UTFA members to review the final summary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the calls to action to determine how they may contribute towards the collective efforts of reconciliation and to addressing systemic inequities for Indigenous people.
UTFA stands with Indigenous members of the University of Toronto community and is committed to dismantling anti-Indigenous racism.