Canoes of students, teachers, West Kelowna city council members and RCMP officers paddled across Okanagan Lake to be welcomed onto the shores of Westbank First Nations by elders on Friday Sept. 29, in honour of

The day honours the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools to ensure that they and the atrocities that they endured are not forgotten.

Students from Mount Boucherie secondary school have been preparing for the voyage for an entire year under the direction of Cst. Rohel Williams, an RCMP officer in Westbank with Indigenous heritage.

He explained that educating people and creating a relationship of trust and respect between First Nations communities and law enforcement is vital for the future.

Williams said that to him, Truth and Reconciliation means education. Through his teachings, the children learned how to smudge, give offerings, sing the Okanagan song in traditional language and craft and use hand-drums using techniques that had been passed down by elders. He explained that they also learn and talk about the grim realities that occurred at Residential Schools across the country and the impact of that removing children from their parents had on Indigenous people.

Cst. Michael Della-Paolera from the Kelowna RCMP also joined the group as they paddled across the lake.

He explained that understanding the storied history of the RMCP and its relationship with Indigenous people is important to acknowledge, talk about and learn from.

害羞草研究所淲e need to recognize what took place in the past. We need to work as a team with Indigenous people to make sure that it never happens again.害羞草研究所�

Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremony with Westbank Forst Nations, Kelowna and West Kelowna RCMP. Elder Gary Swite how the community害羞草研究所檚 relationship with the RCMP has changed over the course of his life. More at kelownacapnews.com

Della-Paolera said that he is proud of the efforts made by the RCMP organizations that he has worked for over his career and their dedication to forging a relationship of trust and respect between the police and Indigenous people, while recognizing that more work needs to be done.

After paddling from Kelowna to Westbank, elders welcomed the boats to shore. The boat ride and ceremony showed the unity of the community, of the students, West Kelowna city council and the RCMP, and how they all worked together to complete the journey.

After being welcomed, the students sang the Okanagan song in a drum circle and presented community elders and survivors of residential schools with quilts made by the

To learn more, visit the on the Government of Canada website.

For more information about what the RCMP is doing to work with Indigenous youth visit