Most MPP’s at Queen’s Park reaffirmed their allegiance to the monarchy this week in support of King Charles the Third.
However, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa wasn’t one of them and he won’t be in the Chamber during the singing of God Save the King.
Mamakwa says for Indigenous people, it’s a very complex relationship that they have with the crown.
“I say that because there are things that are attached to the relationship with First Nations. I’m talking about colonialism. I’m talking about oppression. We live it every day as First Nations. It has become a way of life and that’s not right.”
Mamakwa says, “We need to be able to move forward to move forward in a good way and perhaps one way is to acknowledge and apologize for the residential schools because there’s so many of our children, our ancestors that died.”
He adds “I think to move in a progressive way, I would like to see King Charles III make an effort to make that change and also apologize regarding the residential schools. I think there is a little bit of hope when you see the words he has mentioned to other First Nation leaders in the country.”
