Honouring Johnson Redhead.

Today, we honour the memory of Johnson Redhead.

The little six year old boy from Shamattawa, First Nation who was tragically found deceased.

Johnson was loved by his family and community. Many rallied from communities around our region to look for him. We all mourn his shocking death.

His family and advocates are calling for an inquiry. We must be clear on how Canada, in particular, failed Johnson Redhead.

A lack of coordinated care and safety protocols failed to help children with complex needs on First Nations. The chronic underfunding of education and health, as well as the persistent third-world living conditions in a community like Shamattawa, with an acute housing crisis and deep poverty.

Shamattawa the same First Nation that will be at the Supreme Court next month, fighting Canada for its right to clean drinking water. As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as we wear our orange shirts and state that every child matters, we honour the memory of Indigenous children forced into residential schools, survivors and their descendants, like Johnson Redhead, whose lives matter.

We call on Canada to act now for justice.