30th September is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
Every Child Matters
The Federal Government celebrated 30th September, Thursday as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 30th September was made a federal statutory holiday earlier this year, as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended in its 94 calls to action. It will be held annually on 30th September.
To mark this day, Canadians are being called to “own your own truth” when it comes to the country’s history and treatment of Indigenous people on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It honours the children who died while being forced to attend residential school and the survivors, families and communities still affected by the system’s legacy. Hundreds gathered at a ceremony held on Parliament Hill to mark the day.
Algonquin Elder Claudette Commanda echoed Herne’s call, saying the discovery of unmarked graves near former residential schools sites has awakened the country to its history.
“Two-hundred and fifteen little voices woke the country, 215 voices spoke to the world,” Commanda said in reference to the 215 unmarked graves that were first discovered near a former residential school site in Kamloops, B.C., this spring. That number was later revised down to 200 â Commanda called on Canadians to open their hearts and listen to the truth in order to move forward with reconciliation.
Source : CBC news
