Hundreds marked National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Yellowknife
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People gathered at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre to share and listen
In Yellowknife’s Tree of Peace Friendship Centre, people lit birthday candles on orange frosted cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday for years of childhood they lost and for the children who never came home.
Hundreds of people were in attendance Wednesday to mark the sixth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with speeches, prayer and space to share, listen and heal. The event, organized by the Native Women’s Association of the NWT, brought together multiple groups like the YWCA, the Dene Nation, the North Slave Metis Alliance and the NT/NU Council of Friendship Centres.
“There’s a lot of people here and I’m thankful for that,” said Violet Sangris, the executive director for the Native Women’s Association of the NWT.
Darlene Powder, the in-house elder and Indigenous mental wellness co-ordinator with the YWCA, said she’s happy to see so many people and groups attend the event, as that’s how reconciliation happens.
“Today, we’re here to support the children that never made it home from residential school,” said Powder.
Originally from Saskatchewan, Powder said her father and grandparents were forced to attend residential schools.
She said she’s seen the conversation around the history of residential schools evolve since 2008, when the government of Canada apologized.
It was also a chance to listen — something that Danielle Wendehorst, who attended the event, said is especially important this year as residential school denialism circulates.
“I see a lot of disturbing news about movements of white nationalists doubting what happened and if a genocide occurred or not,” she said. She said she hopes more non-Indigenous people learn about the history.
“Having an open heart and open mind and listening and accepting the truth that it did happen and listening to voices,” said Wendehorst, “That’s what I’d like to see more settlers do.”
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has been a federal statutory holiday since 2021. Some 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to leave their families and attend government and church-run institutions. The last residential school didn’t close in Canada until 1996.
Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools or by the latest reports.
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for survivors and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Indigenous leaders decry budget’s lack of money for key reconciliation programs, CBC News
Finland: Truth and Reconciliation Commission should continue says Sami Parliament in Finland, Eye on the Arctic
Greenland: Greenland, Denmark initiate investigation into past relations, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Can cross-border cooperation help decolonize Sami-language education, Eye on the Arctic
Sweden: Sweden told to apologize to the Sámi people as truth commission hands in final report, Radio Sweden
United States: U.S. Interior Secretary listens to Indian boarding school survivors on Alaska stop, Eye on the Arctic
