CAP

Honouring our past. Celebrating our present. Inspiring our future.

National Indigenous History Month is a time to recognize the histories, cultures, rights, and contributions of all Indigenous Peoples across Canada, 📣while also confronting the truths that continue to shape Indigenous realities today.

The legacy of residential schools, forced displacement, systemic discrimination, and violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is not confined to the past; its impacts continue to be felt across generations. While Indigenous communities continue to lead with strength, knowledge, and resilience, many still face inequities in housing, healthcare, education, child welfare, justice, and access to opportunities.

Reconciliation requires sustained accountability and action. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ 231 Calls for Justice provide an important framework for advancing meaningful change.

📣Progress requires ongoing commitment from governments, institutions, and all Canadians.

This month serves as a time for reflection, learning, and continued action in support of Indigenous rights, self-determination, and equitable outcomes for future generations.⚖️

🧡♿ As National AccessAbility Week comes to a close, we celebrate the strength, leadership, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples with disabilities across Canada. 🪶

Through CAP’s engagement work, community voices continue to make one thing clear: our communities know what is needed to create meaningful change.

Community members called for:
🏥 Culturally safe healthcare
🏠 Accessible housing
⚖️ Equitable funding
🤝 Indigenous informed services
🧡 Policies grounded in self determination
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Support for single mothers, caregivers and families
💼 Economic inclusion and accessible employment
🏳️‍⚧️ Inclusion of Two Spirit, transgender, and gender diverse Indigenous Peoples with disabilities

Nothing about us without us must include all off-reserve, status and non-status Indigenous Peoples with disabilities across Canada.

Accessibility is a commitment to equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. It means ensuring every person can access the supports they need, participate fully in community life, and be valued for who they are.

Building a strong and accessible Canada means ensuring every person can belong exactly as they are.

Accessibility cannot be built for communities. It must be built with communities. Together, we are stronger. 🤝

“The Calls for Justice were never intended to sit on a shelf. They were designed to save lives, strengthen communities, and ensure Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People can live in safety and dignity.

Governments must move beyond commitments and demonstrate real progress. Every delay has consequences for Indigenous Peoples who continue to face unacceptable levels of violence and systemic barriers to support and protection."

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples | Congrès des peuples autochtones
- National Chief Brendan Moore

Read our full press release:
https://abo-peoples.org/media
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At CAP, we know accessibility is about more than ramps, elevators, and accommodations. It is about ensuring Indigenous Peoples with disabilities have equitable access to healthcare, housing, education, employment, culture, language, and community.

Did you know? In 2017, disabilities affecting daily activities were reported by 32% of First Nations, 30% of Métis, and 19% of Inuit peoples living off reserve.

Indigenous Peoples continue to face higher rates of disability, and too many barriers remain. Accessibility cannot be separated from reconciliation.

Building a strong and accessible Canada means ensuring no one is left behind. It means recognizing that accessibility must be cultural, emotional, spiritual, and physical.

A truly accessible Canada recognizes the unique realities of off-reserve and non-status Indigenous Peoples living with disabilities.

When Indigenous voices lead, stronger and more inclusive communities follow.

Together, we can build communities where Indigenous Peoples with disabilities are valued, supported, empowered to thrive, and where disability justice is advanced for future generations.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Calls on Federal Government to Accept Senate Amendments to Bill S-2 & End Generational Discrimination.

Learn more by reading our full media statement:
http://abo-peoples.org/media
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This Red Dress Day, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples calls for urgent action and accountability on the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. 🪶

Learn more by reading our full media statement available on our website: https://abo-peoples.org/media
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As the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people continues, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples calls on all Canadians to stand in solidarity this Red Dress Day and to demand meaningful action on the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls‼️

“This is a human rights crisis. And it is happening here. In Canada. Right now,” said National Chief Moore. “We will not be silent.”

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) encourages Canadians to educate themselves, support Indigenous families and communities, and become allies in the fight for justice.

Learn more through the following resources:
➝ unveilingtruths.ca/mmiwg2s
➝ abo-peoples.org/mmiwg2s
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“We honour and uplift all community leaders and organizations who continue to work with unwavering commitment to seek justice and end the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. Your tireless efforts are seen, valued, and vital to the path forward.”

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP)
- National Chief Brendan Moore

💙As Autism Awareness Month comes to a close, we recognize Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse Indigenous relatives—voices too often missing from autism and disability conversations.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples engagement findings show that identity, belonging, culture, and neurodiversity are deeply connected 🧩 Community members shared that reconnecting with culture and community created space to better understand themselves as Autistic, Two-Spirit, transgender, and Indigenous people.

We are also called to rethink the language we use. Words like acceptance and tolerance can unintentionally reinforce hierarchies—placing some in a position to grant dignity to others. But our lives, identities, and experiences are not conditional. They are not ours to have “accepted.”

✨ True inclusion is not about acceptance—it is about:

• Being understood

• Being respected

• Being valued as equals

It means creating systems where no one has to choose between identity, culture, safety, or support. It means listening to lived experiences and ensuring policy reflects the full diversity of our communities.

The path forward must be inclusive, cultural and led by Indigenous voices.

CAP remains committed to this work.