In response to today’s launch of an action plan on ending racism and discrimination by the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), Christy Ferguson, Executive Director of Greenpeace Canada, offered the following comment:
“In the middle of the health, social, and climate crises we’re living through today, we must also recognize that systemic racism is causing deep harm to people and communities and standing in the way of a green and just future for all. But dismantling the systems of colonialism and oppression is not a burden for Indigenous Peoples alone. This is a shared responsibility for all of us. The good news is that recent polling presented by the AFNQL demonstrated that people want to take action. Today’s plan shows us how.
For environmental organizations like Greenpeace, this means recognizing that Indigenous knowledge and decision making are non-negotiable and essential to restoring our natural world. For the Quebec government, this means legislating and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to free, prior, and informed consent for all projects impacting Indigenous territories.
I want to recognize the visionary leadership of Chief Ghislain Picard and call on Greenpeace’s thousands of supporters all across Quebec to act in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in their daily lives. The plan presented today provides a wealth of opportunities for each of us to do better.”