Observing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Today, we observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a critical acknowledgment of the tragic legacy of Canada’s residential schools and a day of commemoration, mourning and reflection honoring and recognizing both the children who never returned home and the Survivors of residential schools as well as their families and communities.
An essential component of this reconciliation process is the public commemoration of the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools on Indigenous People and communities across Canada. As an operator of clean energy facilities that are on Indigenous Traditional Territory, we recognize our ongoing duty to participate in these challenging conversations, amplify Indigenous messages, continue our own education on Indigenous issues in Canada and the U.S., and support reconciliation for the resilience and livelihood of all Indigenous People.
We also know that with education and acknowledgement must come action. FirstLight’s growth into Canada in 2023 galvanized the effort to establish a company-wide Indigenous Relations Strategy. To drive this work, an Indigenous Relations Working Group was assembled, and to ensure the input and perspective of Indigenous People was central to the strategy, FirstLight sought partnership and values our work with an esteemed First Nation leader and former First Nation Chief.
We’re also the proud partner of Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation and Brunswick House First Nation on the Big Beaver Falls and Camp Three Rapids projects, Chapleau Cree First Nation on White Otter Falls, and Dokis First Nation on Okikendawt, working together to operate and develop clean energy projects that reflect and honor the relationship of Indigenous People to the earth and ensuring these First Nation communities receive direct benefits from these projects through shared ownership.
Reflecting on recent progress, FirstLight is both proud of our effort to date to support and uplift Indigenous communities in our service areas and motivated by the enduring responsibility to advance reconciliation in Canada and beyond. Building on our work throughout the year and in observance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we have provided educational resources to our team to encourage their continued learning and asked that they take some time today to engage with these resources. We also donated to the Orange Shirt Society, a non-profit supporting Indian Residential School Reconciliation, continuing our support of this critical organization.
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting reconciliation, and every day, we stand together with the Indigenous People of Canada and the families of the children who never made it home and with the Survivors of residential schools.