The 2014 Woodland Cree gathering kicked off in La Ronge Tuesday morning with a commemoration ceremony for residential school survivors.

A stone monument was unveiled at the site of two Indian residential schools which were located on land now owned by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

Tom Roberts is one of the people who have worked over the past several years to make the monument a reality.

He says the selected site for the monument is important since it is near the foundation of the original school.

“We’re honouring the people that went to school here,” he says. “And a lot of them are in their late 80’s now. And we want to pay tribute to them. Yes, there was some abuse in the residential schools, so that’s the other idea of why we should remember what happened that it may never happen again to our people. Once the people realize what happened here, and why it happened, then we can start healing.”

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson spoke at Tuesday’s opening ceremonies which were attended by hundreds of people.

She says keeping the culture of the north alive is one of the main goals of the Woodland Cree Gathering and everyone is welcome.

Tuesday’s agenda included children’s activities and an evening dance showcase at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre.