Lakeland Society for Truth and Reconciliation holding NDTR events
Across Canada, Monday is National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a day of learning and listening for many about the horrors of residential schools, and a day of celebrating Indigenous cultures that have grown resilient through turbulent times.
“What it means is education,” Rosa John, Lakeland Society for Truth and Reconciliation member, told Lakeland Connect.
“People need to be educated about the realities of Canadian history. They need to be educated about the residential school experience. What’s happened with survivors, what’s happened with those that did not survive.”
The local society is holding several events over the course of the weekend for NDTR, which the federal government made a holiday for this purpose.
On Saturday and Sunday, workshops to learn about making ribbon skirts and vests will be held from 11:00AM – 4:00PM at École des Beaux-Lacs School.
A drive-thru procession is planned for Sunday evening through Bonnyville.
Led by the RCMP, vehicles will be decorated and meet at the C2 parking lot at 5:00PM. The route is posted below.
- 2:00-3:30PM – Tipi Raising – at the Bonnyville Museum grounds.
- 4-5:30PM – Orange Shirt Walk down Main Street.
- 6PM – Feast.
- 7-9PM – Speakers and performers.
“We’re going to have people sharing their their stories of what happened in residential school. Because for a lot of people, they don’t understand exactly what happened. They don’t understand the realities of going in somewhere and being told your culture is is wicked. Your parents are wicked, your grandparents are wicked. Everything you’ve ever lived has been wicked and if you keep doing this, you’re going to go to hell and burn,” said John.
“On top of that, of course, all the physical and all the different types of abuses that happened. All of these things culminated in a lot of pain, so much pain that many of the kids tried to escape, and many didn’t make it.
“As well as educating, we need to celebrate the fact that native people are still here. The language is still here, the culture is still here.”
People are encouraged to wear orange shirts on Monday, highlighting the theme of every child matters.
Event information
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