Thousands gather to commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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This article was published 30/09/2023 (785 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg was awash in a sea of orange Saturday, as thousands gathered in recognition of the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The federal statutory holiday — also known as Orange Shirt Day — acknowledges the history and impacts of of state- and church-run residential schools, where generations of Inuit, First Nations and Métis people suffered abuse.

Numerous events took place throughout the city, including a large crowd that gathered at The Forks and formed a parade.

“Reconciliation starts with yourself. To bring that back to your family and honour your ancestors so their sacrifices don’t go to waste,” said Rayne Ryle-Cote, who performed with Binesiikwe Singers, an Indigenous women’s group, before the procession departed.

The 23-year-old woman from Lake St. Martin First Nation said the event was an important opportunity for her to connect with her culture.

“To me, this is my family,” she said, gesturing toward the crowd. “It just keeps on growing. It brings that sense of love.”

The parade, led by riders on horseback and accompanied by a police escort, headed north down Main Street at about 11 a.m. before turning west onto Portage Avenue and ending at the Canada Life Centre. The event culminated in a ceremonial powwow, with dozens of Indigenous dignitaries, accompanied by civic and provincial politicians, participating in a grand entry ceremony.

Similar demonstrations took place simultaneously across the country.

“Every time you dance at a powwow, every time you sing, every time you speak your language, you prove that the architects of the residential school era failed in their quest to destroy our cultures,” Wab Kinew, leader of the provincial NDP party said, addressing the crowd.

“Make your mind strong, make your spirit strong, make your body strong and wear your hair long, so that the survivors will know that what they’ve been fighting for all these years is coming true with you.”

Wa-Say Healing Centre organized the parade which drew crowds of roughly 10,000 people in each of the last two years, making it an annual symbol of reconciliation in Manitoba’s capital, Wayne Mason Sr., the organization’s executive director, said.

The day is a time to reflect and honour residential school survivors, and those who died, he added.

More than 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children attended Canada’s 140 residential schools between 1831 and 1996. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and Winnipeg-based Centre for Truth and Reconciliation estimate more than 4,000 students died as a result of residential-school trauma and abuse.

Kinew promised this week that, if elected as premier on Oct. 3, he would enshrine the day as a statutory holiday provincially. He reiterated the pledge Saturday.

“I hope we can add Orange Shirt Day as another holiday where Manitobans spend a part of the day observing commemorating, reflecting, and then you have the rest of the day off to spend with your families,” Kinew said.

Some businesses and government services already change their hours in observation of the day. All civic offices and non-essential provincial offices are closed Monday.

Several organizations, including the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Manitoba Museum and Children’s Museum planned specialized programming focused on the history and impacts of Indian Residential Schools Saturday.

The Leaf biodome in Assiniboine Park hosted a sacred fire and ceremonies at the Indigenous Peoples garden.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca