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Tag: Residential Schools

Today is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada

Today is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada

Today, we honour the children who died while attending residential schools, as well as the survivors, families, and communities that continue to be affected by the legacy of the system.

  • Why Canada is marking the 1st National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this year » CBC
  • How non-Indigenous people can respectfully observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation » CTV
    • Indigenous advocates say Canadians can observe the National Day For Truth And Reconciliation by listening to stories of residential school survivors, wearing orange shirts in solidarity, donating to Indigenous-led causes, and choosing to personally fight for one or more of the 94 calls to action.
  • How to show unity with Indigenous communities » Globe and Mail
  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation sparks hope for these residential school survivors » CBC
  • ‘It has been an awakening for many Canadians’: Cowessess First Nation plans ceremony to honour Marieval residential school victims » Globe and Mail
  • The boy behind the cruel nickname » CBC
    • He’s recorded only as ‘Dummy Bad Boy’ — one of thousands who died while at residential school. CBC News spent 2 months digging through archives to learn more about his life.

  • The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations; the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada; the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada; the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage; the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services; and the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, issued a joint statement on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation »

Catholic Bishops of Canada apologize to Indigenous peoples over residential schools

The statement of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops follows »

Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 24, 2021 /CNW/ – The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), after months of regular meetings and conversation with Indigenous leaders at the national and local level, has completed its annual Plenary Assembly meeting, with this year’s major focus being on healing and reconciliation. At the end of this annual Plenary meeting, and informed by many conversations with First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizations, the Bishops have collectively issued the following statement:

We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, take this opportunity to affirm to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, that we acknowledge the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich history, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual. We also sorrowfully acknowledge the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day. Along with those Catholic entities which were directly involved in the operation of the schools and which have already offered their own heartfelt apologies1, we2, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologize unequivocally.

We are fully committed to the process of healing and reconciliation. Together with the many pastoral initiatives already underway in dioceses across the country, and as a further tangible expression of this ongoing commitment, we are pledging to undertake fundraising in each region of the country to support initiatives discerned locally with Indigenous partners. Furthermore, we invite the Indigenous Peoples to journey with us into a new era of reconciliation, helping us in each of our dioceses across the country to prioritize initiatives of healing, to listen to the experience of Indigenous Peoples, especially to the survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and to educate our clergy, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful, on Indigenous cultures and spirituality. We commit ourselves to continue the work of providing documentation or records that will assist in the memorialization of those buried in unmarked graves.

Having heard the requests to engage Pope Francis in this reconciliation process, a delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders/knowledge keepers, and youth will meet with the Holy Father in Rome in December 2021. Pope Francis will encounter and listen to the Indigenous participants, so as to discern how he can support our common desire to renew relationships and walk together along the path of hope in the coming years. We pledge to work with the Holy See and our Indigenous partners on the possibility of a pastoral visit by the Pope to Canada as part of this healing journey.

We commit ourselves to continue accompanying you, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples of this land. Standing in respect of your resiliency, strength and wisdom, we look forward to listening to and learning from you as we walk in solidarity.

SOURCE Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

More at » Toronto Star / CBC / CTV / Global

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation unveils Survivors’ Flag

The Survivors’ Flag

The Survivors’ Flag

» Truth and Reconciliation Week is September 27 — October 1, 2021
#EveryChildMatters

September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It will be a statutory holiday for those in B.C., Nova Scotia, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) unveils a new Survivors’ Flag to mark the first official National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

This commemorative flag was created by Survivors to share their expression of remembrance with the broader public and to honour all residential school Survivors, families, and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada. The flag was developed through six weeks of consultation, discussion and collaboration with Inuit, Mi’kmaq, Atikamekw, Cree, Ojibway, Dakota, Mohawk, Dene, Nuu-chah-nulth, Secwepemc, and Métis Survivors.

“Earlier this year, the discoveries of unmarked burials at former residential schools compelled many Survivors to reflect on remembrance — of the experiences they survived and of their fellow students who did not return home,” said Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of the NCTR. “The Survivor’s flag represents the thoughts, emotions, experiences and hopes expressed by Survivors who have shared their truths about residential schools. The flag affirms commitment to the remembrance of the lives lost through, and the lives impacted by the residential school system.”

With support from the Government of Canada, the NCTR will distribute official flags to Survivors who contributed to its design and to a number of Indigenous organizations to incorporate into the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events.

“As children, Survivors were told they couldn’t be who they were because they were Indigenous. We were made to believe we were not good enough,” said Wanbdi Wakita, Dakota Survivor and contributor to the Survivors’ Flag, “As a veteran, to be honoured with a flag has special significance. I will bring this flag with me to gatherings and ceremonies. I hope Canadians will also incorporate the flag into their own gatherings in the future to mark remembrance.”

The NCTR also encourages everyone to find a way to participate by wearing orange, watching national events, or promoting learning at their school or place of work if they are not marking the statutory holiday.

The Survivors flag will also soon be available for purchase to the general public, including in additional formats, such as car flags, window decals, and lawn signs.

To learn more about the Survivor’s Flag and the design visit the Survivor’s Flag Exhibit

More at » CBC

The Legacy of the residential school system » Commemorating a tragic and defining event in Canada’s history

The Legacy of the Residential School System: An Event of National Historic Significance

Parks Canada via YouTube »

A tragedy born from colonial policies in Canada’s history, the Residential School System was imposed on Indigenous peoples to assimilate them, and destroy their cultures and identities. By the time the last school closed in the late 1990s, it is estimated that at least 150,000 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children had attended federally-run residential schools.

By recognizing the national historic significance of the Residential School System, the Government of Canada is acknowledging the past, and, with Indigenous peoples and communities, is committed to sharing the experiences of Indigenous children in these schools to ensure that this history is never forgotten.

Cette vidéo est aussi disponible en français.

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