People donned orange clothing and gathered by the hundreds across Canada on Saturday to acknowledge the systemic oppression of Indigenous people by marking the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The federal statutory holiday recognizes abuses suffered by Inuit, First Nations and Metis people at hundreds of state and church-run residential schools.
Here are some excerpts of what was said in honour of the occasion:
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害羞草研究所淚 remember sitting there crying, and I was only seven years old. And my parents were probably thinking, 害羞草研究所榊eah, our kids are in a better place, they害羞草研究所檙e safe, they害羞草研究所檙e looked after, they害羞草研究所檙e getting an education. But it wasn害羞草研究所檛 (safe). I was sexually abused by one of the workers, and I never talked about that.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Tammy Cook-Searson, chief of Saskatchewan害羞草研究所檚 Lac La Ronge Indian Band
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害羞草研究所淎 lot of us have to understand not just what happened in the past, but the impacts that the past has in very real things today 害羞草研究所� Whether it害羞草研究所檚 trauma, or addictions, cycles of poverty and marginalization. Those are the results of deliberate policies that governments of Canada and other orders of government took on.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
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害羞草研究所淩econciliation is a way of seeing and living life. It is about being intentional in how we interact with one another害羞草研究所攈ow we show respect. Reconciliation is a shared responsibility between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. I see the potential of reconciliation in so many things, in both small gestures and large public acts. Reconciliation will thrive if we nurture it, in our workplaces and our homes. It will thrive if taught in our schools and our public offices.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Gov. Gen. Mary Simon
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害羞草研究所淚n the ongoing work of reconciliation, it is time to move beyond words. It is time to pursue meaningful, concrete solutions that remove the federal government gatekeepers so Indigenous peoples can determine their own futures, strengthen their languages, cultures, and unique ways of life, and continue building stronger, more prosperous Indigenous Nations and a brighter future for Canada.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre
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害羞草研究所淐anadians should use today as an opportunity to learn about the history and injustices of the residential school system, and we recognize the courage and hard work that Elders, Survivors and other Indigenous leaders are doing to share their stories and experiences. Only by confronting this history can we commit to a future where all children can prosper.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
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害羞草研究所淩econciliation is an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships. Part of this work includes taking concrete actions to advance the implementation of the (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) Calls to Action. While we have seen progress 害羞草研究所� there remains an urgent need to accelerate efforts to implement the remaining Calls to Action.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Assembly of First Nations Interim National Chief Joanna Bernard
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害羞草研究所淭he day recalls the residential school experience of Phyllis Webstad. Phyllis, a Survivor from the Stswecem害羞草研究所檆 Xget害羞草研究所檛em First Nation, wore an organge shirt gifted to her by her grandmother on her first day at St. Joseph Mission Residential School in British Columbia. The shirt was taken from her when she arrived and never given back, marking the beginning of Phyllis害羞草研究所檚 long and traumatic separation from her family, culture and heritage.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford.
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害羞草研究所淲e have a solemn responsibility to listen to survivors, deepen our understanding of B.C.害羞草研究所檚 and Canada害羞草研究所檚 colonial histories, and address the systemic inequities that First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit people continue to experience.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� B.C. Premier David Eby and Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation Murray Rankin.
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害羞草研究所淭he reconciliation part is the challenging part because, of course, when Truth and Reconciliation was recognized six years ago, the government of Canada did more in the six weeks than they did in the six years. We have to hold the government, the province of New Brunswick, the government of Canada, we need to hold them accountable in terms of, we need reconcili-action now.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� St. Mary害羞草研究所檚 First Nation Chief Allan Polchies Jr.
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害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very difficult to share and I don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 ever going to not be difficult. But I think in order to heal, people have to realize what actually happened, what the historical wrongs were that were done to Indigenous people and really feel that. So no matter how hard it is, they have to feel the pain too.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Gail Standingready, Birdtail Sioux Nation member and 害羞草研究所�60s Scoop survivor
