Please see the below statement from Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party of Canada, commemorating Indigenous Disability Awareness Month in Canada:
Indigenous Disability Awareness Month is the only Indigenous disability-specific awareness initiative of its kind in the world. It is so important to celebrate the important contributions of Indigenous people living with disabilities to this country and to recognise the unique barriers they face.
I want to thank Indigenous Disability Canada and the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society for their work to establish this month of recognition in 2015. The government released an action plan in July to guide the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, noting the need to ensure that “the rights of Indigenous Peoples with disabilities are respected in the design and delivery of government programs, policies and services.” This month offers many opportunities to take action and improve awareness of and services and support for Indigenous people with disabilities. By doing so, we advance our commitments to both the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.