{"id":13341,"date":"2026-09-29T10:52:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/?p=13341"},"modified":"2026-09-29T10:54:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:54:59","slug":"every-child-matters-yesterday-today-and-for-generations-to-come","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/?p=13341","title":{"rendered":"Every Child Matters: yesterday, today, and for generations to come."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaching, there is an opportunity to share a meaningful message with UNE members about what this day represents and how we can continue walking forward together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth and Reconciliation is more than remembering a difficult chapter in Canadian history. It is an ongoing journey of healing for Indigenous peoples, a journey that begins with truth, grows through understanding, and moves forward through respect, education, awareness, and meaningful relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September 30 is a day to honour the children who never returned home from Indian Residential Schools, the Survivors who did, and the families and generations who continue to carry their stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impacts of Residential Schools did not disappear when the schools closed. Healing takes generations, and reconciliation asks all of us to understand that history with compassion and to recognize that every person has a role in creating a better path forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reconciliation cannot happen without truth. Healing cannot happen without understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As union members, standing together is especially meaningful. Unions are built upon solidarity, the understanding that people should not have to stand alone when seeking dignity, equality, respect, and belonging. Those same values can help guide the journey of reconciliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reconciliation does not belong only to Indigenous peoples. It is a shared journey. It can happen in our workplaces, schools, communities, and the relationships we build with one another. It happens when we listen. When we learn. When we create space for Indigenous voices and knowledge. When we choose understanding over judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 30, UNE members are encouraged to wear orange in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, Residential School Survivors, their families, and the children who never came home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let orange represent remembrance, but also hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it represent our willingness to listen and learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it represent healing between peoples and generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it remind us that reconciliation is not something completed in a single day. It is something we continue to build together, one relationship, one conversation, and one act of understanding at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Child Matters: yesterday, today, and for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carmen Poitras<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Carmen Poitras, a dedicated member of UNE Local 30202, lives in Cold Lake, Alberta, where she is the mother of three children and the principal of the province\u2019s only federally operated school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deeply committed to advancing Indigenous education, Carmen is currently pursuing a doctorate in this field. Her long-term vision is to expand access to distance learning and create greater opportunities, equity, and educational accessibility for Indigenous learners and those living in remote communities. Through her leadership, dedication, and commitment to education, Carmen continues to help build pathways for future generations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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With the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaching, there is an opportunity to share a meaningful message with UNE members about what this day represents and how we can continue walking forward together. Truth and Reconciliation is more than remembering a difficult chapter in Canadian history. It is an ongoing journey of healing for … <\/p>\n

>> “Every Child Matters: yesterday, today, and for generations to come.”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7,9,12,169,19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13341"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13341"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13377,"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13341\/revisions\/13377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}