Photo: A walk and lunch took place on Sept. 30 to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at West Moberly First Nations (Ed Hitchins, Energeticcity.ca)
By Ed Hitchins
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Energeticcity.ca
In orange shirts, a message to acknowledge the atrocities and horrors of Canada’s residential school system took place on Sept. 30.
Recognized as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, observances took place throughout the peace region, including at West Moberly First Nations (WMFN).
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is held every Sept. 30 and was first held informally in 2013, before being recognized as a national day of observance across Canada in 2021.
A walk and luncheon was held for the community, opened by WMFN Chief Roland Willson.
Willson touched upon a recent demonstration in Kamloops, where alleged members of the white nationalist group the Second Sons dressed in black with white masks near the grounds where the residential school on T’kemlups te Secwépemc First Nation stood.
He also spoke of the counter-protest by local Indigenous community, one he said displayed resiliency in the face of hate.
“I thought that was an awesome, awesome demonstration of the resilience of the people,” Willson told the crowd that gathered in the bottom room of WMFN’s health centre.
“It is a bit of a sad day, but it’s also kind of a good day that we’ve come to this point now that we’re accepting what’s happening. We’re trying to heal from it. and move on [and] not forget.”
Orange shirts worn by the assembled crowd on Sept. 30 were designed by WMFN’s cultural department.
The crowd walked to where an ‘Every Child Matters’ sign in the community, with drumming and dreamers’ songs performed by WMFN chief Elder, George Desjarlais.
Desjarlais told Energeticcity.ca said while his family was spared, he knew of other Indigenous children who were sent away to Grouard, Alberta, to residential school during his childhood.
“My grandparents moved to the mountains when children were collected,” said Desjarlais. “My dad [and] my aunts weren’t collected. There were other kids who were taken and sent away. I don’t know if they came back.”
“[Today] it’s about remembering the children and showing they weren’t forgotten. They are not forgotten, not by this community. And I believe all other communities are doing the same thing.”
Desjarlais believes pubic apologies by the Catholic Church and the federal government are “not good enough.”
After the walk was concluded, the group made their way back to the health centre, where a community lunch was served.
The walk and luncheon at WMFN was one of several regional events observed on Sept. 30, which included a drone show by Doig River First Nation (DRFN), a ‘Spirit of Treaty 8’ documentary screening at Tse’k’wa National Historic Site in Charlie Lake, and more.