The Declaration in Support of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been signed by the city of St. John’s and First Light. It’s being heralded as “the foundation for achieving reconciliation.”

Mayor Danny Breen was joined by the president of First Light’s board of directors, Susan Onalik, to sign the document at the First Light Performance Centre for Creativity.

Breen says calls the signing an “important step towards truth and reconciliation,” and thanked members of council for unanimously getting behind it.

Mayor @DannyBreenNL thanks councillors @ianfroude and @mmburton for their work on this initiative, and notes it had council's full support when it was brought forward @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/qmIIsEn2S7

— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) September 24, 2020

Stacey Howse, Director of Programs at First Light, described the declaration as a “historic event” and an important step forward.

There are 94 calls to action in the truth and reconciliation commission. Howse says the declaration is a promise to act on those calls and advance the rights of Indigenous people.

And the document is signed by @FirstLight_NL and @CityofStJohns mayor @DannyBreenNL @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/zVlEDWgXJF

— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) September 24, 2020