Prince George recognized Canada’s first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with an informal gathering at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park.
Many people wearing Orange Shirts came together Thursday to honour the significance of the day, which is meant to commemorate the horrific legacy of residential schools in Canada.
While the formal event which was to have a set schedule, performances and vendors was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, an informal gathering which consisted of a prayer, speeches and a march to the Exploration Place display took place instead.
“It really says a lot when we see so many orange shirts here and so much support and allies to what is taking place. Each and every one of you are contributing in a really positive way for making change for our Aboriginal people,” said Lheidli T’enneh Elder Darlene McIntosh during the opening prayer.
“Our First Nations people have just come through a devastating announcement of finding over 215 children that were in Indian residential schools, their bodies thrown into the ground so no one would find out. Who would do this to innocent children? The trauma that continues to open the wounds of our Elders is unthinkable.”
McIntosh urged everyone to take the time to listen and reflect.
“We as First Nations people faced this for over 150 years. This is a day of introspection, a day for all humanity to be silent just for a moment,” said McIntosh.
“Thank you for those willing to build a strong relationship with each other and a powerful commitment to make sure this does not happen again. We thank all who have come forward today to show they care.”
The gathering was organized and hosted by UHNBC drummers Wesley Mitchell and Ivan Paquette, who are known for organizing weekly drumming at the hospital in support of healthcare workers throughout the pandemic.
“I want to express my personal gratitude to Wesley and Ivan and others like them who have shown us the way to make a difference in the community,” said MLA Shirley Bond, who added that Thursday was about asking the hard questions.
“Words make a difference, and it is one thing to be here today sharing with one another as we wear orange, but we need to move beyond that. There are specific things that we need to do. I need to do those as well as a legislator.”
Mayor Lyn Hall also took a moment to thank Mitchell and Paquette before commenting on Truth and Reconciliation.
“It is about education and what I can learn as an elected official to do my job better, what I can do to learn from Elder McIntosh, Wesley and Ivan and others to do better in my role not just as the mayor of Prince George but as a human being,” said Hall.
“This day doesn’t end today there is work to do far beyond today. Today was an opportunity for us to come out and recognize collectively the truth and reconciliation journey that we are on.”
Former NDP candidate Audrey McKinnon was also invited to speak and called for a recommitment to listen to Indigenous voices and take action.
“Ask yourself what you can do for the next 364 days, and all the days after that to take action to make this a better place for Indigenous peoples and to make reconciliation a reality.”
Following the opening remarks, residential school survivors and drummers led the crowd on a march through Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, past the burial ground, and toward the Exploration Place where a monument to the 215 children discovered in Kamloops is displayed in the windows.
Participants then placed flowers below the monument and gathered to perform a song called Honouring the Day.
