Londoners Honour 4th National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

More than 250 London-area students were among those who gathered Monday at the Western Fair District Agriplex to mark the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day is a time for Canadians to remember the children who died in Canada’s government-funded, church-run residential school system, the survivors, and the families and communities still affected by trauma.

The students, from June Rose Callwood, Lord Elgin, and Prince Charles public schools, were there to hear speakers and take part in workshops for the final day of the Gawii Wiikaa Ga-Nendimisii (Never Ever Forget Me) Indigenous Music & Artisan Festival.

The event, led by Chippewas of the Thames First Nation leaders, began two years ago with the aim of honouring children forced into residential schools. It was one of several events that took place across the country.

Volunteering with one elementary school was Alli White, a Grade 12 student from Montcalm Secondary School.

“The day is mainly a day of education. I take that very to heart,” said White, whose family is from Oneida Nation of the Thames First Nation, and whose grandmother is a residential school survivor.

White said she gave a presentation on Friday to her school about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

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She added that other students have been excited about new Grade 11 English courses, introduced this year, with a greater focus on Indigenous voices.

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Attendees also heard from Jennie Blackbird, a Walpole Island First Nation elder and survivor of Mohawk Institute in Brantford.

“We got a beating and we got strapping. That was the darkest history in North America, what they done to our people,” Blackbird told CBC News.

“Truth and reconciliation? Truth was here before air, and we were the truthful people… And reconciliation, that’s just words.”

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