ReconciliACTION

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Last Thursday marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and County residents gathered in several areas to remember the Indigenous children who died while attending the residential school system and the enduring legacy that still affects survivors, families and communities. More than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools between the 1870s and 1997 when the last of these schools were closed. Over 4,000 children are known to have died at these schools, and the number may be as high as 15,000. The purpose of these schools was to separate Indigenous children from their culture and force them to adopt the religion and customs of Canada’s majority population. Many of the children at these schools were abused in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) called a system of cultural genocide intended to erase Indigenous language and culture. In addition, there were over 600 day schools within communities, and the type of abuse was similar to that at the residential schools. In its final report in 2015, as one of its 94 calls to action, the TRC recommended establishing a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a vital component of the reconciliation process and a way to commemorate the legacy of residential schools. A private member’s bill by Saskatchewan MP Georgina Jolibois was introduced in 2017 to make it a statutory holiday, but the bill did not pass until 2021 after being fast-tracked following the discovery of over 200 unmarked burial sites at a former Kamloops residential school. The date for the new federal holiday was set for September 30, which since 2013 had been known as “Orange Shirt Day” in honour of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, who had her favourite orange shirt taken away from her on the first day of school. Ontario is one of a handful of provinces that have chosen not to recognize the day as a statutory holiday.

Schools across the County had events to mark the day, and groups gathered at different locations to remember the residential school victims and the survivors and their families. Last Thursday afternoon Rick Byce, a Cree from Chapleau, Ontario, led a tobacco and smudging ceremony at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Picton.

More than 30 people formed a circle in the parking lot against the backdrop of Christi Belcourt’s mural Wisdom of the Universe as Byce burned sage in a solemn remembrance of the victims of the residential school system, and in particular those who lie in recently discovered unmarked graves. Later that evening another group met in Delhi Park to commemorate the day. The Regent Theatre presented a free live concert featuring Indigenous musicians. Kimberley Maracle gave a short introduction noting the day was in honour of all the lives lost and said it was a time to move forward and for everyone to make a commitment to do something to fulfill the TRC’s 94 calls to action. The first performer of the evening was eaoh Argos, a young musician from the Fort McMurray reserve, who was accompanied on stage by Donald Quan. The next performer was an Indigenous dancer accompanied by music from David R. Maracle and Kim Maracle. The latter two then played a set of music using Indigenous instruments.

The next performer was Tom Wilson. He was part of the Sixties Scoop, in whicn Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to “white” homes. He was unaware of his ancestry until about six years ago, at age 56. “Canada’s attempt to kill off the entire Indigenous population in this land is one of the grossest, most inhumane sagas in this world and continues today in all of us, everybody who’s on this stage. The trauma runs through our blood. My mother in Grade 3, she went to a residential school, and the teacher every day used to make the students stand and she would say ‘Take a look around the room, because you’re the last Indians this planet is ever going to know.’ She told me this story on her 82nd birthday. She told that story to me, her grandson and her great-grandson. It’s a testament that we are survivors,” he said. In addition to playing a number of songs, accompanied on stage by Ray Ferrugia and Jesse O’Brien, he also read from his book Beautiful Scars, which tells how he came to discover and embrace his heritage. There is currently a movie being made from the book, and a stage play is In the works. The play will feature an all-Indigenous crew and cast and will tour Canada sometime in 2023.

The final performers on stage were Digging Roots, who won a Juno award for Aboriginal Album of the Year in 2010. This was their first stage performance since February 2020, and lead singer ShoShona Kish welcomed the opportunity to be singing for a live audience again, while acknowledging the sombre occasion. “We are gathering for the most painful reason. We share a history on this beautiful land and this is our moment to dream who we can be together, to be the creators of our own truth and our own path forward,” she said.

The intent of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools. It is a day to reflect on the legacies of the residential school system, the colonial policies and attempted cultural genocide of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. One of the ways that Canadians can contribute to reconciliation is through the Walk for Wenjack fundraiser for the Downie-Wenjack Fund. This fund helps to raise awareness and educate people on the true history of residential schools. The walk is named after 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack, who escaped from a residential school in 1966 and attempted to walk 600 kilometres back home. He died after succumbing to the weather on October 22, 1966. For information on the walk in Prince Edward County, please email Karen at karfull05@gmail.com. For information about Truth and Reconciliation, please visit nctr.ca.

David R. Maracle and Kim Maracle of Tyendinaga perform on stage at the Regent during the ReconciliACTION concert last Thursday night.

Rick Byce, a Cree from Chapleau, Ontario, leads a tobacco and smudge ceremony at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Picton.