Communities reflect on Canadian history for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

The City of Burlington along with the Urban Indigenous Community held a walk for reconciliation and peace for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

The walk along the waterfront began at 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

A gathering in Hamilton this morning for a traditional sunrise ceremony at west harbour kicked off the day for truth and reconciliation.

Don Mcaulay explains the significance of the fire and how it represents the energy all around us.

“The fire is connected to the sun, the moon, earth, air and everything all around,” Mcaulay says.

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Also at west harbour in Hamilton, an afternoon full of traditional music, stories and speakers.

“This is a day to remember those who survived and those who never returned home. Today is a day about education, truth and resilience and coming together as a community,” says Brandy Pasalic.

“I think it’s important to take time to listen to the stories, learn the truth, truth comes before reconciliation, and that’s the stage that we are in right now so we are providing an opportunity for people to come out and do that,” says Katelyn Laforme, the Director of Indigenous Relations from the City of Hamilton.

Also in Hamilton at Landmark Cinemas in Jackson Square, there was a public viewing of the film Bones of Crows.

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The viewing was organized by McMaster University’s Undergraduate Medical Education Program along with the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge.

“The movie Bones of Crows gives a lot of details that are maybe absent from people’s education about indigenous history in Canada. So that includes the impact of residential schools, and intergenerational trauma,” says Patricia Farrugia, the acting Associate Dean of Indigenous health for the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.

In Niagara Falls, a flag raising ceremony.

“It’s important that we all learn together and realize where we come from and where we are going. It’s an ongoing process, we are here to acknowledge it outwardly with our orange shirts and inwardly with thoughts and prayers, and forward with our intentions,” says Jim Diodati, the Mayor of Niagara Falls.

But at the core – the day is a day to honour the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools.

“Just to share in the experience of what today is all about, that we want to recognize the struggles of Indigenous people in Canada and the resilience of us working together with Canadians to really make a difference with this generation and generations to come,” Farrugia says.

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