On November 1, the School of Population and Public Health joins the UBC community in recognizing Musqueam Day.
Musqueam Day marks the anniversary of the landmark Guerin v. The Queen decision, delivered by the Supreme Court of Canada on November 1, 1984. This ruling affirmed that the federal government has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of Indigenous peoples and recognized the inherent and collective nature of Aboriginal land title, language that continues to shape Canadian law and policy today.
The Guerin decision has had far-reaching impacts for Indigenous peoples across Canada, setting a critical legal precedent for the recognition of Indigenous rights and self-determination. In honour of this important milestone, November 1 is a statutory holiday at Musqueam, during which all non-essential services are closed in recognition of the community’s leadership and ongoing pursuit of justice.
To learn more about this historic decision and the significance of Musqueam Day, we encourage you to read this post shared by X̱wi7x̱wa Library.
We invite all members of the SPPH community to take time to reflect on the legacy of the Guerin decision and its continuing relevance today.