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Mississauga, Ont. – August 30, 2019 – UFCW Canada recently participated in the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation’s 33rd Annual Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow. Held on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Reserve, the event featured a variety of food vendors, fire keepers, Indigenous leaders, and allies as part of a weekend-long celebration.

At the event, Chief R. Stacey Laforme greeted hundreds of attendees during the opening ceremony by talking about the importance of the human connection to the land and to ourselves. Entitled “Loving Mother Earth,” the Pow Wow featured a group of dancers that included retired Indigenous veterans as well as a performance from the Big Train Singers, who provided the grand entry song. The event was also replete with traditional jingle dancers, fancy dancers, men’s dance, honour songs, drumming groups, and a poem entitled “Sacred Trust,” read by Chief Laforme.

Among those in attendance at the Pow Wow were Bob Goulais, who was the Master of Ceremonies; Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, who spoke about the importance of kinship; and Ontario Regional Chief, RoseAnne Archibald, who addressed the community at the opening ceremonies. The Pow Wow was led around a recently constructed Arbor, created by University of Waterloo students and incorporating the shape of a dream catcher.

“As we look ahead to the last few weeks of summer, it is important to acknowledge the role that climate justice plays in ensuring that land is available and in good condition to hold these important cultural celebrations,” says Paul Meinema, the national president of UFCW Canada. “UFCW was honoured to take part in the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Pow Wow, for it presented an opportunity to strengthen our friendship with this First Nation and show respect for the leadership and community work continuously being done by the Mississaugas and other Indigenous organizations in Ontario,” the UFCW leader continues. “Fighting climate justice means strengthening our shared relations with First Nations and Indigenous communities across Canada, and UFCW is committed to pursuing this work.”

As Canada’s leading union, UFCW is committed to achieving Indigenous justice and advancing Indigenous rights in Canada. To learn more about our work in this area here, and to find out how you can advance Reconciliation in your workplace and community, visit UFCW Canada’s Reconciliation webpage.