September 30, 2021 marked the first observance of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, following the identification of unmarked burial sites at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia.
Survivors across Canada have long told stories of the abuse and deaths that took place at these institutions. The announcement from the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation has galvanized nationwide efforts by Indigenous communities to locate their missing children.
Commemorating this day to honour Survivors and increase understanding of the history and legacy of Residential Schools is one step in a long journey towards truth-telling and meaningful reconciliation.
Join us at 10am at Wáká Ehi Lodge, 464 Isabella Street, Pembroke for light refreshments before we begin our annual walk to Pembroke Marina.
Facebook Post from Pembroke Regional Hospital:
If you are looking for ways to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, consider taking part in this walk on September 30th between 10 a.m and noon in Pembroke.
There is also a Lunch and Learn series taking place this week which is offered by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. All sessions are available online for viewing at the link below if you can’t participate at the time they are offered.
The following offers a summary of the sessions taking place.
Surviving the Residential School System – This session will consider the reason why we say “Survivor” rather than “graduate”, and how many Survivors of residential schools found solace through the media of sports and the arts. Artist and Residential School Survivor Antoine Mountain and author Janice Forsyth will be joined in conversation with moderator Dr. Vanessa Watts.
Uncovering the Truth: Ground Searches – This session will look into the technicalities of what a ground search constitutes and many of the questions around why and how they should be done. The conversation will combine the lived experience of Residential School Survivors Francis Dickie Yuzicapi and Jacquie Bouvier with the technical expertise of moderator Bryton Bigelow.
The Ongoing Legacy of the Residential School System through Child Welfare – This session will look at the direct throughline from the residential school system to the Sixties Scoop through to the overwhelming number of Indigenous children in child welfare today, including the directly related aspect of forced and coerced sterilizations of Indigenous women. CFS worker Roxanne Balan will moderate a discussion between Residential School Survivor Vivian Ketchum and reproductive justice support worker Shelby Ponace.
Reflecting on the TRC’s Calls to Action 10 Years Later – This session will reflect on the decade which has passed since the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action were published, including how many of the Calls have been fulfilled and what is still holding back progress. It will feature TRC Commissioner Dr. Marie Wilson, founding Executive Director of the NCTR Ry Moran, and will be moderated by author Connie Walker.
Confronting Residential School Denialism – This session will actively confront one of the largest identified barriers to reconciliation: residential school denialism. Dr. Niigaanwewidam Sinclair and Residential School Survivor Eugene Arcand will dismantle the most frequent and inaccurate denialist arguments in a conversation moderated by Dr. Savage Bear.
Comments are Closed