The Fort William First Nation is making the move to push Canada Day celebrations to July 4.
The move from Chief Peter Collins comes after 751 unmarked graves were discovered at the former Marieval school in Saskatchewan.
Collins confirmed that he is reaching out to other Indigenous leaders for a nationwide movement.
“We as leaders need to make sure that we stand strong and united,” stressed Collins. “Not only that but push the federal government to recognize the wrongs of the past.”
Collins has previously called on Ottawa to investigate known and suspected burial sites within Fort William First Nation Traditional Territory.
The chief added that fireworks will be lit up to remember those who died, and not as a celebration of Canada.
NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong Sol Mamakwa indicated Thursday politicians expressing sorrow now at the discoveries of children’s graves at former residential schools, but failed to act, need to stop thinking that words alone are enough.
The critic for Indigenous and Treaty Relations added the children were taken from their parents, and never returned home, adding their families never stopped searching for them, and never stopped missing them.
Mamakwa repeated his call for churches and governments that operated residential schools to release all their records.
