A sunrise ceremony was held Monday morning at the James Street plaza at West Harbour in Hamilton to celebrate the start of Truth and Reconciliation Day.
The ceremony was prepared just before 7 a.m. and led by an elder or firekeeper around a sacred fire.
This year marks the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, where the people of Canada learn and reflect on the histories of the Indigenous and Inuit people.
An afternoon event will run from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and feature Indigenous knowledge sharing, survivor’s stories, education and reflection.
READ MORE: What’s open and closed in and around Hamilton on Truth and Reconciliation Day
The statutory holiday was established by the Canadian government to “recognize the tragic legacy of residential schools, the missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of these institutions.”
Residential schools had operated in Canada for over a hundred years, with the last one closing in the late 90s in Saskatchewan.
More than 150,000 Indigenous children were taken from their homes and stripped of their language, culture and identities to assimilate them into Euro-Canadian culture.
Many children experienced physical and sexual abuse, and all suffered from being alone and separated from their families.
The National Day is one of the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation commission report that was published in 2015.
READ MORE: Man’s body discovered near vacant church in Hamilton
The day also coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which began in 2013.
Community members are invited to attend the afternoon ceremonies within the area to commemorate the day.
