Solidarity Statement with Indigenous Peoples in response to Colten Boushie, the Strawberry Ceremony, and Ryerson University’s remarks

Solidarity Statement with Indigenous Peoples in response to Colten Boushie, the Strawberry Ceremony, and Ryerson University’s remarks

February 15, 2018

While anti-Native racism continues to live in this “Canadian” landscape and inside our institutions, we understand that the past few weeks have been particularly violent in the injustices lodged against the Indigenous community. We too are in outrage in the functions and outcomes of the “justice” system. We too are in outrage at the deplorable responses from the Canadian government in relation to the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, and Trans* folks.

We also see the ongoing resistance of Indigenous Peoples in response to these injustices, and are reminded daily of how and what solidarity work should look like between Black and Indigenous communities.

Amid President Lachemi’s remarks in response to Colten Boushie, his family, and his Peoples not receiving justice, we are reminded how even on campus with reports and words that sound nice that we must ensure that these become a reality. We are reminded that the push for liberation on and off campus must be for Black people and Indigenous Peoples, and we continue to commit ourselves to this work alongside and support Indigenous communities and organizers like Indigenous Students Rising to ensure our Indigenous colleagues and friends have both their truth and their reconciliation.

-In shared outrage and solidarity

The Black Liberation Collective-Ryerson