Published 12:52 pm Saturday, November 22, 2025 National Child Day was celebrated in Canada on Nov. 20 to acknowledge the importance of children’s rights and the country’s commitment to upholding them. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) sets out the rights of children with 54 articles that provide a road map of what is needed to support children and youth to be safe, healthy and included. These rights can be sorted under the three Ps of: Protection (right to be safe), Provision (right to be healthy) and Participation (right to be yourself and to be heard). This year, Article 30 of the UNCRC is highlighted, which protects every child’s right to practice their own culture, religion and language. These rights are considered central to a child’s sense of identity and belonging, helping them connect with their heritage, communities and traditions. Celebrating Article 30 means recognizing that each child carries unique cultural strengths and perspectives that enrich our society. Every young person deserves the opportunity to express and take pride in who they are. Rankin Inlet Elder Levinia Brown has a unique perspective on National Child Day. Brown said as early as she can remember, family was very important. She has fond memories of bonding with her parents, grandparents and all of her siblings. She said she also warmly remembers knowing her surroundings were safe and she was surrounded by a loving environment. “The teachings that originated from my parents’ love was good,” said Brown. “I learned fast the difference between right and wrong. It was always easy to listen to my late mother because she was such a soft-spoken person. “Children seem to respond more to those who speak calmly, and, I believe, we all remember the words spoken from a kind person or parent from our childhood.” Brown said the rights of children from birth to adulthood to be who they are must be valued and respected, just as Inuit were taught to respect their Elders. She said lessons learned in a nurturing, loving environment aren’t soon forgotten. “I always saw all that was taught to me. I tried to apply those same teachings to my own children: the integrity, the safety and the honour. I wanted my children to grow up to be good, strong adults. “It’s important for children to be taught their rights, but it’s also important for them to learn their right to love, to be kind to others and to be good citizens in their community. “I always believed that it takes a community to raise and properly teach a child. These are my guiding principles still today — to try and have balance between courage, assertiveness and consideration. “Children most certainly do have their own individual rights. Yes, they are precious and should be handled with care, but they also have to be taught well so that they grow up with strong voices that are heard. Children can get intimidated and remain silent when they hear things like ‘speak only when you’re spoken to.’ And, if as adults, we too listen, we may find children too often have something to say.”
Children blossom in nurturing, loving environments, says Rankin Inlet Elder
