If you are a residential school survivor, you are able to contact the 24-hour National Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 for support. Indigenous people can also access the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or online chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca.
A sea of orange filled Kenora’s Whitecap Pavilion yesterday afternoon as the community stood in solidarity in honour of our shared Indigenous history, culture and traditions – as well as the second annual Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.
The day’s events began with community members wearing their orange shirts and walking from the former Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School’s memorial site down Airport Road to the Harbourfront for a traditional lunch, before Grand Entry under the Whitecap Pavilion.
Local elder Terry Skead began with traditional welcoming remarks, opening the ceremony for Wauzhushk Onigum Chief Chris Skead, Kenora-Rainy River MPP and Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford, Thunder Bay-based author Roma Fisher and Grand Council Treaty #3 Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh.
“It fills my heart with warmth seeing all of the orange shirts, representing the ones we love,” said Kavanaugh. “What I’m seeing makes me feel emotional...just seeing the great turnout that’s here today.”
Treaty #3’s Grand Chief made his remarks as he wore an orange #72 hockey jersey with the name ‘Wenjack’ on the back – honouring the story of Chanie Wenjack – a 9-year-old boy who died after running away from the CJ school in 1954. His story was the focus of Gord Downie’s Secret Path project of 2016.
After traditional drumming and dancing throughout the afternoon, dinner was provided – well as a free concert by Gator Beaulieu. All City of Kenora staff took part in the events, after a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall.
The Kenora Chiefs Advisory also held a variety of family activities and events at their Youth and Family Wellness Camp down Strecker Road today.
Canada passed legislation last year to make September 30 a federal statutory holiday, one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of 2015’s Calls to Action, after the discovery of the 215 unmarked bodies in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.
The story made headlines around the world – forcing Canadians to finally face the horrors of our former residential school system.
For over 100 years, over 150,000 Indigenous youth were forcibly taken from their families to be assimilated into residential schools and settler culture, which included giving youth new names, haircuts and identification numbers.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation says over 70 Indigenous youth in the Kenora area died while attending two local residential schools.
As well, Chief Chris Skead notes the Treaty #3 region had the highest concentration of residential schools across the country, with more schools in Couchiching, Lac Seul and more throughout the area.