Treaty #3 Flag
Disappointed.
That’s how the Grand Chief of Treaty #3 feels about Kenora MP Eric Melillo’s Canada Day messaging.
In a release, Francis Kavanaugh says he wasn’t happy to hear Melillo encouraging people to celebrate July 1.
Ogichidaa Kavanaugh says our riding had one of the highest concentrations of residential schools in Canada, and he hoped Melillo would have been “more thoughtful of the people he represents”.
He says that in the coming days, he plans to reach out to Melillo to talk about the impact the residential school system has had on the Kenora area.
Ogichidaa Kavanaugh says that this year marked one of the best July 1 experiences he’s had, spending the day honouring residential school victims and celebrating that they are still here as a people.
The Grand Chief adds that he and Grand Council Treaty #3 seek to work with all partners but only in the spirit of mutual respect.
In response to the release, Melillo says celebrating Canada Day isn’t mutually exlusive with recognizing the harm caused in the past and resolving to do better.
“Canada Day is a celebration of freedom, inclusivity and human rights. This country has not always lived up to those ideals, as atrocities like the residential school system reminds us,” says Melillo, “But the ideal of Canada holds us to account and gives us something to strive for.”
Melillo says that since he was elected in 2019 he has fought to advance reconciliation and has consistently stood up for First Nations communities in the Kenora Riding.
The Kenora MP adds that he will continue to do so for as long as he’s in office.
