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In Ottawa, first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours survivors, those who never came home

Over a thousand people gathered on Parliament Hill for the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, 2021. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

On Sept. 30, Parliament Hill was painted orange as more than a thousand people gathered for the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Earlier this year, Sept. 30 was declared a federal statutory holiday, coinciding with Orange Shirt Day, which honours the story of Phyllis Webstad, a young girl whose new orange shirt was stripped from her on her first day at St. Joseph’s Residential School in 1973. On Sept. 30, 2013, Webstad spoke publicly about her experience and Orange Shirt Day was born.

The federal statutory holiday was established after ground-penetrating radar uncovered the remains of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, confirming what Indigenous people have known for decades.

Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were the only provinces to make the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a provincial holiday.

On Sept. 30, more than 1,000 people congregated on Parliament Hill for Orange Shirt Day and the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

At an event organized by Pass the Feather Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada, survivors of residential schools were honoured with the gift of eagle feathers.

On the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an event to honour victims and survivors of residential schools took place on Parliament Hill. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthAndReconciliation
Rows and rows of chairs are set up around the stage for survivors, each with an orange lily or carnation on it. Before the opening ceremonies, survivors of residential schools and day schools were each honoured with the gift of an eagle feather. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

Some came to support their family, like Heather George, 36, and her four-year-old-daughter Maxine. During the two-hour ceremony, George’s uncle, Doug George-Kaneentiio, an Akwesasne Mohawk Residential School Survivor, made a speech about his experiences.

While waiting for the opening ceremonies to begin, four-year-old Maxine waves an “Every Child Matters” flag high in the air from her perch on her mother’s shoulder. Heather George, 36, and her daughter came to support George’s uncles, Doug George-Kaneentiio and Dean George. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

James Eagle, or Sit Alone Bear, is a survivor of the Pine Creek Indian Residential School in Manitoba and served in the Canadian Forces for 25 years.

Born in 1934 in Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation, Sit Alone Bear (James Eagle) is a survivor of the Pine Creek Indian Residential School and a Korean War veteran. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

“We are going to tell the people of Canada what happened at those schools,” he said. “There (are) a lot of non-believers in Canada.”

During the ceremony, speakers honoured residential school survivors and the children who never came home.

“We just want the truth to be told,” Jonel Beauvais, a Wolf Clan woman from Akwesasne, told the crowd. “Because we all know that things that happen in the dark all come to light.”

Jonel Beauvais, a Wolf Clan woman from Akwesasne, addresses a sea of orange at Parliament Hill during the opening ceremonies for the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

Her powerful words moved attendees to clap, cheer and cry.

A person wipes away tears during the opening ceremonies on Parliament Hill. Photo by Natasha Bulowski
A survivor has a quiet moment, sitting on the stage at Parliament Hill on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

Several moving performances by Theresa Bear Fox and the Akwesasne Women’s Singers expressed the pain of losing one’s child and honoured the children who never came home.

Theresa Bear Fox (centre) and the Akwesasne Women’s Singers perform at Parliament Hill for a crowd of more than 1,000 people. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

A group of drummers held a “decolonized moment of silence,” symbolizing the heartbeats of all the children who were killed in residential schools with one minute of drumming.

Drummers embrace one another after symbolizing the heartbeats of all the children who were killed in residential schools with one minute of drumming. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

Attendees were asked to ensure they did not block the view of survivors during the ceremony and many stood rather than occupy any vacant seats intended for survivors.

A survivor watches the opening ceremonies through the media fray, clutching their eagle feather and orange lilies. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

After the ceremonies, the survivors led a walk to Confederation Park for an afternoon of art, food and performances.

James Eagle (Sit Alone Bear) and Cecilia, his wife of 66 years, lead the Spirit Walk to Confederation Park. Survivors and their children walk at the front of the procession. Photo by Natasha Bulowski
A survivor holding orange lilies walks arm-in-arm away from Parliament Hill towards Confederation Park. Photo by Natasha Bulowski
Kirstan Thivierge (left) and Bethany Stewart (right) drum as they march towards Confederation Park. Photo by Natasha Bulowski
Survivors and attendees march to Confederation Park in an orange flood, some drumming as they go. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

At Confederation Park, survivors were invited to sit around the stage to watch more performances like hoop dancing and singing and tell their stories to the crowd.

At the park entrance, people could add their handprint to an interactive art installation commemorating all the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and victims of residential schools.

A child adds their handprint to an interactive art installation at Confederation Park. The red handprints represent missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and the orange represent victims of residential schools. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

People lined up to get bison burgers and strawberry drink before settling in to listen to survivors speak about their experiences.

Four-year-old Maxine eats an orange sprinkle donut while her mother, Heather George, speaks to event organizers. Their family is from Akwesasne. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

Traditional Indigenous art demonstrations like basketry, beading and metalworking were available for attendees to try.

Sarah Green, 72, braids sweetgrass for the first time at Confederation Park. Her family immigrated to Canada when she was 13, and she has lived in Ottawa for 40 years. Green said braiding the sweetgrass slowed her down and gave her an opportunity to reflect. She feels “it is urgent that we face our dark history as well as the injustices that continue to exist.” Photo by Natasha Bulowski

Countless survivors spoke their wisdom throughout the afternoon, including 23-year-old Bethany Stewart from the Cree Nation of Wemindji in Eeyou Istchee. Stewart was taken from her mother at three years old and is a survivor of the child welfare system.

“I grew up in a white home, away from my culture, abused all my life,” Stewart told the crowd. “And it still happens. I have so many friends who are survivors of that.”

Bethany Stewart (right) and Kirstan Thivierge (left) both drummed in the opening ceremonies and filmed the survivors speaking at Confederation Park. Stewart is from Wemindji, one of nine Cree First Nations Communities on the Eeyou Istchee territory. Thivierge is Two-Spirit and hails from Beaverhouse First Nation. Photo by Natasha Bulowski

Stewart’s mother was murdered when she was 12 years old, and she is still seeking justice.

She said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has the power to release the documents on residential schools and ensure those responsible are held accountable, and that he has chosen not to is “a shame.”

“I don’t want to see any more of our children being taken and growing up like I did. Because I know what it was like,” she said. “He has the power to ensure that our children don’t keep getting taken away from our homes, growing up away from our culture, but he doesn’t.”

Natasha Bulowski / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer

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