Sask. Indigenous group lauds Gord Downie's message from Kingston, Ont., show
Tragically Hip singer says Canada on the right path with Prime Minister Trudeau
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations hopes Canadians were listening to Tragically Hip singer Gordon Downie on Saturday during the CBC's coverage of the band's final show in Kingston, Ont.
During the broadcast viewed by 11.7 million Canadians Downie voiced his support of building better communities and improving lives of First Nation people across the country.
- Indigenous affairs minister says Downie's words heartening but daunting
- 'Trained our entire lives to ignore': Gord Downie's call to action for Indigenous in the North
- Millions watch Tragically Hip live on CBC
Downie told Canadians during the live telecast on Aug. 20: "Prime Minister Trudeau's got me, his work with First Nations. He's got everybody. He's going to take us where we need to go. He cares about the people way up North, that we were trained our entire lives to ignore, trained our entire lives to hear not a word of what's going on up there."
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron thanked Downie on Monday for the statement saying First Nations in Canada need all the support they can get to improve the quality of life for First Nations people and treaty lands.
"There's a wide array of issues and for Mr. Downie to say this while millions of people were watching … it really showed that it didn't matter to him the colour of his skin," Cameron told CBC News.
Cameron added Downie's statement highlighted many points elders and Indigenous grassroots leaders have been speaking out about for decades.
"It's very encouraging to hear Mr. Downie use his celebrity to endorse the work of Prime Minister Trudeau. Mr. Downie is right, there is much work to do to improve the lives of Indigenous people but with his support and bringing these issues to the forefront for Canadians, more people will take the time to learn the true history of Canada."
Cameron said his prayers are with Downie, who is battling terminal brain cancer.
Cameron said the FSIN plans on extending an invitation to Downie to attend an assembly this fall.
With files from CBC Radio's Dan Zakreski