Today marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation here in Canada. A day that honours the children who tragically lost their lives while attending residential schools, as well as the survivors, families and communities that are still affected by the legacy of the residential school system.
This new federal statutory holiday was created and approved by Parliament days after the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation confirmed the discovery of over 200 burial sites on the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. Weeks later, over a thousand other graves were found, with further searches currently underway across Canada.
Further, the new Truth and Reconciliation 94 which speaks to ninety-four calls to action urging all levels of government to work together to change policies and programs in an effort to repair the harm caused by the residential school system and a way forward towards reconciliation.
While the discoveries have caused an outpouring of grief around the world, this day has been a long time coming. The hope is with time, we as a nation can make things right, where First Nations and their beliefs and traditions are fully respected treated with honour and respect, so that we can fly our flag high and proud once again.
All my relations.