Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation marked in Ottawa

[ Speaking French ] >> WHAT YOU’RE SEEING ON YOUR SCREEN IS A LIVE SHOT COVERAGE FROM OTTAWA AT THIS HOUR FOR THE THIRD YEAR AS WE KNOW CANADA IS RECOGNIZING THE SHAMEFUL HISTORY OF THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. THIS IS GOING TO BE ALIVE CEREMONY HONOURING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND REMEMBERING THE

PAINFUL FAST THAT HAVE COME TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. AMENITIES ARE GATHERING ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR EVENTS MARKING NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION INCLUDING POWWOWS , RALLIES AND A COMMEMORATIVE EVENT ON PARLIAMENT HILL. THE ONE THAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IN OTTAWA. >> [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [ Speaking French ]

>> HELLO MY NAME IS CHARLES. >> I DAY OF REMEMBRANCE , LISTENING AND COMMITMENT. WE GATHER HERE ON PARLIAMENT HILL AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE ISLAND TO HONOUR THOSE WHO NEVER MADE IT HOME FROM RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS , THOSE WHO SURVIVE THEM AND THE FAMILIES FOREVER CHANGED BY IT ALL.

>> THE LEGACY OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS , THE SIX B-SCHOOLS AND A CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM HAVE HAD A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND OUR SOCIETY AT LARGE. IN THE NAME OF EDUCATION AND INDIGENOUS CHILDREN WHO ARE SYSTEMATICALLY REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AND FAMILY , FOR BEGIN THIS BEING THEIR LANGUAGES

AND IN SOME CASES WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN. FOR DECADES B-SCHOOLS TRIED TO CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION , TO KILL THE INDIANS WITHIN THE CHILD. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE — >> ON THIS DAY OFF NATIONAL MORNING OFF TRUTH TELLING AND HEALING WE MUST ALL RENEW OUR COMMITMENT AND INDIVIDUAL

CITIZENS ON THE PAST THREE GUNS. BEARING WITNESS TO TRUTH IS ONLY ONE SMALL STEP. [ Speaking French ] >> WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY FOR THE HEALING. FOR NEWCOMERS , FOR YOUNG PEOPLE , ALTHOUGH ITS , WE ALL HAVE TO ACT ON A DAILY BASIS. [ ??? ]

LIVE FROM THE UNCEDED UNCERTAIN AND ARE THERE AUTHORITY OF THE UNISSUED NOT BE ALGONQUIN NATION , THIS IS THE NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND CONSOLATION. [ Speaking French ] >> NATIONAL DATA OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION. REMEMBERING THE CHILDREN. >> OVER THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF WE WILL SHARE A SERIES OF

TRIBUTES TO THOSE TAKEN FROM US FAR TOO SOON. >> WE’LL HEAR FROM SURVIVORS ,’S WRITERS AND WITNESSES TO THEIR STRENGTH. >> AS WE OFTEN DO WHEN WE BEGIN , WE BEGIN WITH CEREMONY AS MEMBERS OF OUR OPENING PROCESSION ARRIVED TO BEAR WITNESS , THEY WILL BRING THEM WITH THEM A VERY SPECIAL OBJECT

OF THIS IS A RED BOX. >> HAD — HANDCRAFTED THIS BOX WAS AT ALL EVENTS THE ARTIST IS WITH US AGAIN TODAY. HELPING THE GARRIDO BOX HE CREATED TO PRESERVE THE DEEPLY PERSONAL ITEMS. EACH SIGNIFYING HEALING AND HOPE. >> IT’S PHASES REFLECT THE DISTINCT CULTURES ALL FORMER FIRST NATIONS , INUIT AND METIS

STUDENTS. [ Singing ] [ Singing ] [ Applause ] [ Speaking French ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. TO ALL CANADIANS AND TO ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY , FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CREATOR , MY FAMILY , MY COUNSEL , MY COMMUNITY AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALL FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE WHO WERE

IMPACTED BY THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. MY NAME IS DYLAN AND I AM THE PROUD CHIEF OF A THRIVING ALGONQUIN COMMUNITY CALLED KITIGAN ZIBI ANISHINABEG FIRST NATION. I AM HUMBLED HERE TO SPEAK HERE TODAY ON OUR UNCEDED , UNCERTAIN UNDER THE LANDS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR PEOPLE OCCUPYING THIS TERRITORY

AND LANDS FOR TIME IMMEMORIAL. AND CONTINUED TO DO SO TODAY PRESENTLY. THIS SEPTEMBER 30th , 2023 MARKS THE THIRD NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION , I APPLIED ALL FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE ACROSS TURTLE ISLAND WHO CONTINUE TO BE RESILIENT , COURAGEOUS AND PROSPEROUS. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [ Applause ]

CANADA IS TAKING SOME STRIDES TOWARDS RECONCILIATION. I WILL ADMIT THAT. BUT I CHALLENGE IN THIS COUNTRY TO DO BETTER. AND I EXTEND THIS CHALLENGE THOUGH ALL CANADIANS WHO KNOW THAT THEY COULD DO BETTER. LET’S NEVER FORGET THESE IMPORTANT FACTS. NUMBER 1 , FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE HELPED BUILD THIS COUNTRY DATING

BACK TO THIRD TRADE. FAX NUMBER 2 , WE FOUGHT IN MANY WARS ALONGSIDE YOU AND THEY WERE ONE BECAUSE OF OUR HELP. FACT NUMBER 3 , THE TREATIES THAT WERE ASSIGNED MUST BE UPHELD WITH RECOGNITION AND HONOURED EVERY DAY. [ Applause ] AND FINALLY NUMBER 4 , RESOURCES CONTINUE TO BE EXTRACTED FROM

ALL OF OUR FIRST NATIONS THERE AUTHORITY’S ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. TODAY , FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES DO HAVE GOALS. WE SEEK PROSPERITY. WE WANT A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND WE WANT OUR INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES BACK. BUT UNFORTUNATELY , WE ARE IN A SURVIVAL MODE AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE ASK YOU TO HELP US ACHIEVE THESE GOALS.

LET US ALL WORK TOWARDS ECONOMIC RECONCILIATION AND RESHAPE THIS GREAT COUNTRY NOT FOR TODAY BUT FOR THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS. [ Cheering and Applause ] ON BEHALF OF ALTHOUGH ALGONQUIN UNISSUED KNOBBY , I WELCOME YOU TODAY AND LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT EVERY CHILD MATTERS. HAVE YOURSELVES A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY.

[ Cheering and Applause ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] >> CHIEF WIFE THAT — OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RECENTLY APPOINTED US THE 15th CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA , THE VERY FIRST INDIGENOUS WOMAN TO HOLD OUT THE RULE. SHE IS ALGONQUIN FROM KITIGAN ZIBI ANISHINABEG FIRST NATION. [ Speaking French ]

>> LET’S LISTEN TO THE ELDER. >> [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] >> SURVIVORS. [ Speaking French ] >> FAMILIES , COMMUNITIES , HONOURED GUESS , CANADIANS. WE GATHER HERE TODAY REMEMBERING THE CHILDREN TO HONOUR , TO RESPECT AND TO SHOW LOVE , WE MUST COME TOGETHER IN A SACRED

CIRCLE OF LIFE , WE MUST COME TOGETHER IN A SACRED CIRCLE OF PRAYER , WE MUST COME TOGETHER IN A SACRED CIRCLE OF LOVE , THE CREATOR HAS BLESSED US WITH VOICE , WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH HEART. TO GIVE HONOUR TO THE CREATOR , TOGETHER WITH THE ONE MIND , ONE

HARD , ONE SPIRIT AND ONE VOICE. LET US ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREATER AND SAY [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] WE THINK THE CREATOR FOR ALL OF HIS BLESSINGS. WE COME TOGETHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO RAISE OUR VOICE WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS. TO SAY A PRAYER , OUR PRAYER OF LOVE TO ALL OF THE SURVIVORS WHO

ARE HERE WITH US. TO ALL THOSE SURVIVORS WHO DID NOT RETURN HOME. AND TO ALL THE CHILDREN REMEMBERING THE CHILDREN [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] WE THINK THE CREATOR FOR HIS LOVE. TO EACH AND EVERYONE A FEW BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE YOU HERE IN THIS CIRCLE. WITHOUT LOVE , THERE’S NO HEALING.

AND WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR SURVIVORS SPRAY FOR THIS WE SAY THIS PRAYER FROM OUR HEART THE DAY GOT LET US SHOW THAT LOVE TO THE SURVIVORS AND WE THANK THE CREATOR FOR BLESSING US WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] AS WE THINK OUR ANCESTORS FOR

ALWAYS PRAYING FOR US [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] THINK YOU FOR ALL OF US BEING HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT PRAYER OF LOVE AND JUST REMEMBER HOPE IS FREE IS THE GREATEST BLESSED US WITH ALL. I LOVE YOU ALL. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] I LOVE YOU ALL. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [ Cheering and Applause ]

[SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [ Speaking French ] EAGLE RIVER SINGERS. >> WE WANT TO THINK ALL THE SINGERS FROM KITIGAN ZIBI ANISHINABEG FIRST NATION. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KNOWN US ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AND US INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. >> HE HAS EMBODIED TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP , TREMENDOUS CAREER AS AN ACCOMPLISHED LAWYER , I

RESPECTED POLITICIAN AND EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETE. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] DR WHITNEY. [ Cheering and Applause ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] HELLO MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. FIRST , I WANT TO EXPRESS MY UTMOST GRATITUDE TO THE GREAT SPIRITS AND HOWEVER WILL YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR GREATER. I WARM HANDSHAKE OF LOVE AND

FRIENDSHIP TO EVERYONE IF YOU ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU CAME HERE TO REMEMBER TO GIVE TRIBUTE WITH THE CHILD SPIRIT A AND TO ALL YOUTH WHO WENT BEFORE US ON THERE SPIRIT JOURNEY. I AM SADDENED THIS MORNING. I JOINED MY SISTER AND HER LAST TRAVELLING SONG AS SHE IS DYING THE DAY.

SHE’S A FORMER RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL STUDENT. VERY IMPORTANTLY THOUGH I ALSO WANT TO HONOUR THE SURVIVORS FOR YOUR RESILIENCE , YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR STRENGTH. YOU ARE OF DRIVERS. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] THE CHALLENGE NOW IS WHAT DO WE DO WE DO HAVE GOOD RELATIONS. WHAT DO WE DO THE RESTORE RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS , HOW

DO WE ADVANCE TRUE RECONCILIATION. YOUR EXCELLENCIES , OUR GOVERNOR GENERAL MARY SIMON AND VICE CONCERT WITH FRASER , THINK YOU FOR YOUR MUCH APPRECIATED SUPPORT AND THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] é? WE MUST WORK TOGETR [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] WE NEED TO WORK HARDER THAN WE CAN IF WE ARE TO SUCCEED.

FINALLY US OUT FORMER TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION , I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS IN ADVANCING RECONCILIATION. HOW? WHERE THERE IS HATRED , LET US STILL LOVE. ON WHICH MACK — [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] WHERE THERE IS INJURY , PARDON. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] WHERE THERE IS DOUBT , FAITH. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE]

WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR , HOPE. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] FOR THIS I AM GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [ Applause ] [ Speaking French ] THANK YOU DOCTOR. WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OUTLINED ENGAGEMENT OF ANOTHER BROADCASTERS [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] >> WE ARE VERY PROUD TO SEE

CANADIANS FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST COME TOGETHER ON THIS DAY OFF HONOUR AS WE HONOUR THE SURVIVORS AND GRIEVE THE PROFOUND IMPACTS OF GENOCIDE BUT WE ARE STILL FAR FROM IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THE 94 CALLS TO ACTION AS OUTLINED BY THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION AND WE HAVE YET TO

SEE EVERY PROVINCE MARK THIS DAY AS UNOFFICIAL STATUTORY HOLIDAY. [ Speaking French ] >> OUR — >> AT ST. MARY’S RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL , THAT THE MUCH AWAY FROM HIM , HE WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO HIS COMMUNITY AND TO THE MUSIC THAT NEVER LEFT HIM. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] PLEASE WELCOME.

[ Cheering and Applause ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] ANYWAY I WAS IN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS AND EVERY TIME I SPEAK MY LANGUAGE I GOOD THOUGHT FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. SO TODAY I AM GLAD TO SEE EVERYONE ESPECIALLY THERE IS MY PARTNER , HE HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR A WHILE.

ALL THE ONES THAT SIT IN FRONT , I HOPE YOU GUYS GET UP. IT’S BEEN A BE A SHORT ONE. IT’S A SAD SONG. I WROTE IT. ARTICLE IT RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SONG. HE IS IT NOT — [ ???? ]oD [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [ Cheering and Applause ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] THINK YOU.

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE. [ Speaking French ] >> SHE IS A THIRD-GENERATION SURVIVORS SHE IS A LAND DEFENDER , SHE IS WATER PROTECTOR , WATER WALKER , CULTURAL TEACHER , GRANDMOTHER AND SO MUCH MORE. HER WORK FOCUSES ON EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTALISM LISTEN THROUGH INDIGENOUS OF PERSPECTIVES. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] PLEASE WELCOME DOREEN!

[ Cheering and Applause ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] MY SPIRIT NAME IS I LOVE MY INDIAN WAYS. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL PRAYER. MY FELLOW SURVIVORS AND FAMILIES AND LEADERS , MEDICINE PEOPLE , HER EXCELLENCY , GOVERNOR GENERAL MARY SIMON AND THE SENATORS [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] AND ALL GOVERNMENT

MEMBERS AND SPECIAL GUESTS AND THROUGH ALL THOSE SURVIVORS WHO ARE JOINING US HERE AND ACROSS CANADA AND BEYOND [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] THINK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO BE WITH US TO BEAR WITNESS TO THIS THIRD NATIONAL DAY OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION. TO HONOUR THE SURVIVORS OF THE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS IN CANADA.

WE HONOUR AND WE REMEMBER [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] ALL THOSE WHO ARE NOW OUR ANCESTORS WATCHING OVER US IN THE SPIRIT WORLD. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU SURVIVED GENOCIDE. WE HONOUR AND REMEMBER [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] THE CHILDREN WHO DIED IN THE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS. THE MISSING CHILDREN WHO NEVER

CAME HOME AND THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND , THE ONES THAT WE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR , WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU. WE HONOUR ALL THE CHILDREN’S8hÑO STARTED THE MOVEMENTS TO BATTLE ADDICTIONS AND HELP PEOPLE TO LEARN TO LOVE THEMSELVES AND THEIR CREATOR AGAIN. WE HONOUR AND PRESERVE AND

REVITALIZE OUR CULTURES AND OUR LANGUAGE , OUR TRADITIONS AND OUR CEREMONIES TO HELP US TO HEAL TRAUMA SENT THE LEARN TO LIVE WITH LIFE. WE HONOUR ALL STAND RIGHT BACK OUR INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND MOTHER EARTH AND WATER FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS ALL OF OUR [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE].

WE HONOUR ALL THOSE WHO BROKE DOWN THE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION TO TEACH OUR TRUE HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DUCTLESS ERASED FOR GENERATIONS. THE HISTORIANS , THE AUTHORS , THE POETS , THE ARTISTS , THE PROFESSIONALS , ALL WHO INSPIRE US TODAY. WE HONOUR THE COURAGE OF SURVIVORS WHO LED THE FIGHT FOR

JUSTICE TO SPEAK OUR TRUTH THAT THEY’LL CANADA AND THE WORLD WE SURVIVED GENOCIDE. WE HONOUR THE SURVIVORS AND ALL OUR DESCENDENTS%qñ WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE IMPACTS OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL CITY. WE HONOUR ALL THOSE WHO STAND WITH US , WHO WORK AND HELP AND SUPPORT US [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE].

I HONOUR MY MOM AND MY FAMILY AND MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND SEND MY LOVE THE CITY [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE]. ALL MY RELATIONS WITH ALL. [ Cheering and Applause ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] THINK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE. [ Speaking French ] PLEASE WELCOME STEPHANIE SCOTT. [ Cheering and Applause ]

[ Speaking French ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] TREATY ONE PERIOD TORY. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A SURVIVOR AND I AM ALSO SURVIVOR. THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING US TO THE UNCEDED LANDS AND ELDER COMMANDER FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PLAYER. I SAY THINK YOU CALL FIRST NATIONS , SURVIVORS WE ARE ALL

HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR COURAGE. THERE WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN AN APOLOGY AND THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OR A NATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION. SURVIVORS INSIST THAT THE TRUTH OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS MUST NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THAT NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND

RECONCILIATION IS THAT THEY FILL HONOUR ALL INDIGENOUS SURVIVORS WHO ARE WITH US AND THOSE CHILDREN WHO DIED AND THOSE INSTITUTIONS. WE MUST RESPECT ALL SURVIVORS , AMPLIFY THEIR VOICE AND CALL OUT THE DENIERS. WE MUST CHALLENGE THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T WANT TO FACE THE TRUTH. THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM

WAS INTENDED TO DESTROY FIRST NATIONS , INUIT , METIS CULTURES AND OUR LANGUAGES BUT THEY DID NOT SUCCEED. [ Cheering and Applause ] FOR THOSE THAT NEVER MADE IT TO IMPACT THEIR EXPERIENCE GOAL OUTLETS TO TO BE REMEMBERED AND TO BE HONOURED WE HAVE A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF THOSE TRUTHS.

THE NATIONAL STUDENT MEMORIAL REGISTERED CARRIES THE NAMES OF 4140 NAMES OF CHILDREN IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE RECORDS IN THE CARE AND THE STATEMENTS OF THEIR FAMILIES. OF HER RESEARCH IS ONGOING. WE STILL DON’T HAVE ALL THE RECORDS. THEY CONTINUED TO WORK WITH CHURCHES , GOVERNMENTS AND OTHERS SO WE CAN FINALLY ACCESS

THAT 23 MILLION RECORDS THAT WERE NOT RELEASED AT A TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OF CANADA. WE KNOW MORE CHILDREN WILL BE FOUND AND THEIR NAMES WILL BE ADDED. THEN MEMORIAL BANNER WAS CREATED THROUGH SACRED CEREMONY AND WE ARE SHARING IT HERE TODAY IN THAT SAME SPIRIT. ASKED THEM HAD — THE BANNER IS

LESS THAN , SOME OF OUR SPECIAL DECILE UNDER THE CHILDREN AND SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS IMPORT THE FACT OF REMEMBRANCE , THEY WILL PLACE TRUTH ON THIS PAGE TO REPRESENT THE CHILDREN WHOSE STORIES HAVE YET TO BE FOOLED BUT TO US IN SPIRITS WE HONOUR. I’D LIKE TO INTRODUCE METIS

ARTIST , FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION TO PERFORM HIS SONG FEEL YOU HEAR DURING OPERA SESSION. THANK YOU AND [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE]. [ Cheering and Applause ] [ ??? ] [ Singing ]/ [ Singing ] [ Singing ] [ Singing ] [ Singing ] [ Singing ]

[ Singing ] [ ??? ];v. [ ???? ] [ Singing ] [ Applause ] >> [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] THINK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU I — YOU HAD US CRYING. IT’S OKAY TO CRY. THANK YOU FOR THAT WE NEED A DOT. THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [ Speaking French ]

>> SHE IS UNDECORATED LEADER AND TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR HER GOING AT THE END BEYOND FROM FRIENDSHIPS OTHERS THE REGIONAL COUNCILS , FROM CHILDREN’S CARE TO ELDERS CARE , [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] ELDER ANGIE. [ Cheering and Applause ] >> ON FEBRUARY 29th , 1880 , A LETTER FROM THE BISHOP WAS

ADDRESSED TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HE WROTE IF YOU BRING US 100 INDIANS AND HALF BREEDS TO THE MISSION , IF THEY LEAVE OUR CONVENT , THEY WILL NO LONGER BE INDIANS. THEY WOULD BECOME GOOD CITIZENS , EARN A GOOD LIVING AND BE USEFUL TO THEIR COUNTRY. AND SO IT BEGAN.XGg

US ACROSS CANADA , FROM COAST-TO-COAST , OUR CHILDREN WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR FAMILIES , THE OPENING OF THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL STARTED THE MOST TRAGIC , DESTRUCTIVE AND SEPARATION OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE. AND LOSS OFF OUR VALUES AND CULTURE. WE WERE WITNESS TO THE DARKEST TIME IN CANADA’S HISTORY.

AS USUAL , MANY AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED FROM ADDICTION , SEXUAL ABUSE , DEPRESSION AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. WE WERE SAVAGES AND HAD TO EMBRACE THE WHITE MAN’S WAY OF LIFE AND LANGUAGE. WE HAVE PAID A HIGH PRICE FOR OUR YEARS AND RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL.

AND THE NUNS USE TO LEAVE US AND TELL US I LEFT MY HOME , MY COUNTRY , MY FAMILY TO TEACH YOU SAVAGES AND YOU MUST FORGIVE EVERYTHING THAT YOUR PARENTS WERE THOUGHT OR YOU WOULD , YOU ARE FULL OF SIN AND YOU WILL GO TO HELL. THE HOARDER , HEARTACHES AND

PAYING?;? WHICH WAS REACHED DOWN FOR GENERATIONS AND THAT A WHO SUFFERED)?G? AND ENDURED CRUELTD DEPRESSION , CRYING FOR THE LOSS OF OUR LANGUAGE , VALUES AND CULTURE. WHICH HAS LEFT US A LEGACY OF LAWS AND SO MANY LEVELS. THAT TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WERE NUMBER 1

, TO REMOVE THE CHILDREN FROM THE INFLUENCE OF THEIR HOME , FAMILIES , TRADITIONS AND CULTURE. THE TEACH OF THEM TO ACCEPT I KNOW A MINUTE SOCIETY. THEY ASSUMED THAT OUR CULTURE , OUR LANGUAGE AND SPIRITUAL BELIEFS WERE INFERIOR AND TO EDUCATE US THEY HAD TO KILL THE

INDIANS , SORRY , THEY HAD TO KILL THE INDIAN OFF THE CHILD. WE MUST ADMIRE AND RESPECT THE RESILIENCE OF THESE CHILDREN WHO HAS ENDURED AND SURVIVED AND WE ARE STILL HERE. A PROUD PEOPLE. [ Cheering and Applause ] A PROUD PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT BE DESTROYED BUT THAT WHAT COST?

WE LEARN THE CASE AWAY THE TEARS AND WALK AWAY. TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IS A WALK FOR GENERATIONS AND A LIFETIME. BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER. RESPECT EACH OTHER AND VALUE OUR TRADITIONAL WAYS. FORGIVE AND LET LOVE RUIN YOUR DAY. WE ARE NEVER VICTIMS. WE ARE SURVIVORS! [ Cheering and Applause ]

[SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] WE THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH ALL OF US. [ Speaking French ] WE WILL GIVE THE FLOOR THOUGH OUR NEXT SPEAKER. >> [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE]ÑKó IT’S STILL VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME IN MY LIFE I AM AT THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS EVEN AFTER SO MANY YEARS.

I NEVER EVENT TOLD MY PARENTS ARE MY GRANDPARENTS ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO UNDERMINE THEIR TRUST IN GOD AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHURCH. THE DAY , I AM A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN. GRANDMOTHER OF NINE CHILDREN AND I HAVE ONE GREAT-GRANDSON AND ANOTHER ONE SOON.

I AM HERE TODAY TO DELIVER A MESSAGE OF HOPE. I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THEM A LEGACY OF THE WOODS OF THE PAST. OFF MY PAST. RATHER I WANT TO LEAVE THEM SOMETHING GOOD. HOPE FOR A BIT — A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR NATION’S THE FREE MYSELF FROM WHAT I’VE KEPT

INSIDE ME ALL TOO LONG IN MY HEART THAT IN MY HEAD. AND THE DEPTH OF MY INFECTIONS OF MY BEING , THIS CONVICTION THAT THE HIGHEST LEADERS IN CANADA WAS ALL AS ALL CANADIANS WE ARE HERE AND UNDERSTAND MY MESSAGE OF HOPE. THIS IS MY TRUTH. DESPITE WHAT I EXPERIENCED AT

THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS , I HAVE THIS HOPE THAT OUR RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR GREAT NATIONS BE MORE GALLIC ARYAN AND RESPECTFUL OFF EVERYONE’S RIGHTS I DON’T WANT MY CHILDREN , MY GRANDCHILDREN LIVE AND GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH. WE WILL NEVER FORGET THESE CHILDREN WAS NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE REUNITED WITH

THEIR PARENTS OR LOVED ONES AND THAT IS WHY I AM DELIVERING THIS MESSAGE OFF HOPE TO YOU TODAY. I LOVE YOU. [ Cheering and Applause ] [ Speaking French ] THANK YOU FOR SHARING. >> FROM TREATY ONE THERE WERE THREE AND MEDICAL BACK , OUR NEXT PERFORMER HAS SKETCHED

STRONG HER THIGHS THOUGH HER HOMELAND. THIS CONNECTION INFLUENCES HER. HERE SHE IS. [ Cheering and Applause ] [ Speaking French ] >> I BELIEVE THAT WE CARRY THIS RULE WITH A LINK IN OUR HEARTS EVERY DAY. [ Inaudible ] [ Speaking French ] THIS SONG TALKS ABOUT THE

FREEDOM TO BE WHO WE ARE. [ ??? ] [ Singing ]f [ Singing ] [ Singing ] [ Singing ] [ Singing ] [ Applause ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE! [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] BORN IN 1947 NEAR THE SMALL VILLAGE , HER EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MARY SIMON ,

GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA AND HER SIBLINGS WENT TO AN ENGLISH ONLY FEDERAL DAY SCHOOL. FROM GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX , MARY SIMON AND HER CLASSMATES WOULD BE PUNISHED ANY TIME THEY SPOKE THE ANCESTRAL LANGUAGE OF OUR MOTHER TONGUE AND HER MOTHER. LEAVING THIS ESTABLISHMENT THE BEES HOMESCHOOLED FROM THEN ON

WAS IN HER WORDS PROBABLY THE BEST THING THAT’S HAPPENED TO ME. HERE NOW WITH HER MESSAGE OF REMEMBRANCE AND RECONCILIATION BACK WE INVITE HER EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MARY SIMON GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA. [ Cheering and Applause ] [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] >> WELCOME EVERYBODY AND GOOD MORNING ELDERS , THANK YOU FOR

YOUR PRAYER. SURVIVORS , TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OR , DOCTOR , WE JUST HAD A LITTLE CHAT IN THE BACK AND WE BOTH SAID WE’VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND WE ARE STILL HERE. [ Cheering and Applause ] WELCOME TO OUR INDIGENOUS LEADERS , MINISTERS , DIGNITARIES AND OUR YOUTH.

[SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE] [ Speaking French ] >> DEAR GUESTS THAT A , I AMyM THANKFUL FOR THE WELCOME AND TEACHINGS THE ELDERS OF THIS UNCEDED THEIR AUTHORITY OR SHARING WITH US TODAY AND EVERY TIME WE GATHER ON THESE LANDS , SO THANK YOU. [SPEAKING ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE]

>> I AM GRATEFUL TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY. TO MARK THE THIRD NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION. I DAY OF REFLECTION AND ACTION. [ Speaking French ] >> IS ON HONOUR FOR ME TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. I ALWAYS HAD SO MANY EMOTIONS

GOING THROUGH ME WHEN I WAS WATCHING THEM A MORE REAL CLOTH BANNER. IT’S A VISUAL IMPACT OF HOW MANY KIDS ACTUALLY DID GET THE COME BACK HOME. SO WHAT STORIES DO WE WANT TO TELL OUR CHILDREN? THIS IS OF COURSE THE HISTORY OF CANADA I STOLE BEFORE THE LONGEST TIME OFF EXPLORERS AND

DISCOVERIES OF STEAMING A WILDLAND OFF SETTLEMENTS AND CONFEDERATION , BUT AS TIME HAS PASSED , CANADIANS HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT THIS VERSION OF HISTORY IS NOT COMPLAINT. CANADA’S HISTORY IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. IT SHOULD REFLECT THE INDIGENOUS HISTORIES CERTAINLY OUR NATIONAL HISTORY NEEDS TO REFLECT THE

CHALLENGES , TRAUMA , JOYOUS , EXPERIENCES , KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LIVES. FOR YEARS , INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TELLING THEIR STORIES , I AM HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY , CANADA AS A COUNTRY , IS BEGINNING TO LISTEN TO THOSE STORIES. NS YOU KNOW , MANY OF THOSE

STORIES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. WE ARE GATHERED TODAY TO REMEMBER THOSE STORIES. THE STORIES OF CHILDREN TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMES , NOT JUST FROM THEIR HOMES BUT FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. THE STORIES OF THE CHILDREN REPRESENTED IN EVERYTHING WE SEE TODAY ON STAGE. EVERY ISSUE HERE REPRESENTS THE

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS , EVERY SHOE COMMEMORATES THE CHILDREN WHO NEVER MADE IT BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES AND FOR A SONG THAT CAME HOME NEVER SAW THEIR PARENTS AGAIN BECAUSE THEY HAD PASSED ON WHILE THEY WERE AWAY. THESE CHILDREN WHO LIE IN UNMARKED GRAVES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WERE NEVER FORGOTTEN BY THEIR FAMILIES NOR THEIR

COMMUNITIES. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION REPORT THAT HAS CALLS TO ACTION AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON THOSE CALLS TO ACTION BUT I JUST WANTED TO SEE THAT IN ADDITION TO THESE REPORTS INCLUDING MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS , THE UNMARKED

GRAVES OFF THE CHILDREN WILL THIS COUNTRY AND I AM SEEING, EVERY DAY, HOW COMPLEX IT IS WHAT IS CONFRONTS US AS A COUNTRY, HOW COMPLEX IT IS. AND WHEN I TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I DON’T JUST STAY IN THE CITY AND MEET WITH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES. I ALSO GO OUT TO REMOTE

AREAS AND COMMUNITIES TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND THEIR CONCERNS AND HOW THEY SEE RECONCILIATION. AND I’VE BEEN RECENTLY TO A PLACE IN NOVA SCOTIA WHERE THERE WAS A HOUSE THAT PROVIDED SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THEY DEAL WITH THEIR TRAUMA AND THEIR HEALING THROUGH ART.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT IN OUR COUNTRY. SO YESTERDAY, WHEN I HOSTED AN EVENT AT RIDEAU HALL, WHERE WE HAD A WONDERFUL INDIGENOUS ARTIST, MERYL McMASTER, SHE SHOWED ALL THE STUDENTS THAT WERE THERE HOW TO USE ART TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FULL HISTORY OF

OUR COUNTRY AND TO SHARE THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS WHERE A WORLD WHERE EVERY CHILD MATTERS. RECONCILIATION IS HOPE. HOPE THAT WE ARE BUILDING TOGETHER A FUTURE THAT IS FREE FROM RACISM, HARM, PREJUDICES, EXPULSION AND VIOLENCE AND INJUSTICES. EVERYTHING THAT HAS MARKED THE LIVES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FOR CENTURIES. BUT WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER

HOW INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE WORKING NOT ONLY THROUGH THEIR WELL-BEING BUT WE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH NONINDIGENOUS CANADIANS, DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING PETTER COMMUNICATIONS AND BETTER COMMUNITIES. IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THESE THINGS, AND I UNDERSTAND AND FULLY SYMPATHIZE WITH THOSE THAT ARE AT HOME IN SMALL COMMUNITIES ARE CONTINUING

TO SUFFER THE INEQUITIES. SERVICES THAT WE HAVE, HEALTH SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, EDUCATION THAT’S RELEVANT TO THEIR CULTURE AND LANGUAGE. AND I THINK THAT IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON BIGGER ISSUES, IT’S NOT NECESSARILY HAVING AN IMPACT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

SO I THINK WE MUST THINK MORE ABOUT HOW WE, AS LEADERS, THAT WE SHOULD ALSO THINK ABOUT SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL? SO ON THIS NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION, LET US ALL GO FORWARD WITH HOPE AND AJ WINA-TA IN MY

LANGUAGE IN INNUKT UT MEANS NEVER GIVE UP NO MATTER WHAT. [ Applause ] LET US GO FORWARD WITH THE CHILDREN IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. LET US SUPPORT THE FAMILIES, AND LET US WALK THIS JOURNEY OF RECONCILIATION TOGETHER ONE STEP AT A TIME. [ Speaking Indigenous Language ] [ Speaking French ]

>> Voice of Interpreter: LET AS WALK TOGETHER ON THE PATH, ONE STEP AT A TIME. [ End of interpretation ] THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I AM WITH YOU. THANK YOU. [ Applause ] >> [ Speaking French ] HONOURABLE MARY SIMONS, GOVERNOR-GENERAL DU CANADA. >> Voice of Interpreter: OUR

NEXT SPEAKER HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR THE HEALTH CARE. [ End of interpretation ] >> HE IS A DECORATED ACTOR AND PHYSICIAN WHO WAS UNTIL RECENTLY THE DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT INDIGENOUS SERVICES CANADA. IN HIS NEW ROLL AS ACTING ASSOCIATE DEAN IN THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY, HE

CONTINUES TO BE A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND A RESPECTED VOICE AND LEADER FOR THE LGBTQ-PLUS COMMUNITY. >> [ Speaking French ] >> Voice of Interpreter: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DR. EVAN ADAMS. [ Applause ] [ End of interpretation ] >> I AM AN INTERGENERATIONAL SURVIVOR. MY PARENTS MET —

[ Voice of interpreter ] >> CAN BARELY STAND TO TALK ABOUT — >> [ Speaking French ] [ Overlapping voices [ Some. >> BUT I WAS WITH HER WHEN SHE IDENTIFIED HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHIVES. MY SISTERS ARE AT HOME WITH HER, HOPEFULLY HOLDING HER

HAND AND WE ARE HOLDING THE MEMORY OF OUR DEAR FATHER BETWEEN US. WE COLLECTIVELY QUELL OUR RAGE, SOFTEN OUR HEARTS AND WE HOLD EACH OTHER CLOSE. IT IS A GOOD DAY FOR HEALING. IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD DAY FOR HEALING. AS WE UPHOLD SURVIVORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIKE MY MOTHER, LET’S ALSO REMEMBER

THOSE WHO DID NOT MAKE IT HOME, THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US AND LET US CALL OUR SPIRITS BACK TO US AND LET US ALSO REMEMBER THE IMPERATIVE, LOVE ONE ANOTHER. [ Speaking Indigenous Language ] [ Applause ] >> [ Speaking French ] >> Voice of Interpreter: TODAY, WE’D LIKE TO

UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS. MOST OF ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR ELDERS THAT SUPPORT SURVIVORS EVERY DAY. [ End of interpretation ] CONTRIBUTIONS — RESOLUTIONS OF CULTURAL SUPPORT WORKERS. FOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLING TO MENTAL HEALTH AND CULTURAL SUPPORT SERVICES, THESE HEALTH PRACTITIONERS HAVE MADE HEALING POSSIBLE.

MANY HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY CARE FOR TECH CANADIANS BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. THROUGHOUT THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION PROCESS, THE NATIONAL INQUIRY OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS AND BEYOND. AND NOW I INVITE THE VERY TALENTED MI’KMAW SONGSTRESS EMMA STEVENS TO COMMETE

THESE HEROES WITH A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE. [ Applause ] >> THANK YOU AND I’M HONOURED TO BE HERE TODAY. I DEDICATED THIS HONOUR SONG TO EVERY PERSON WHOSE NAME IS LISTED BEHIND ME AND TO SO MANY OTHERS WHO CONTINUE TO OFFER HEALING AND SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS AND FAMILIES. LET US TAKE A MOMENT TO

ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESOLUTION HEALTH SUPPORT AND CULTURE SUPPORT WORKERS THAT ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY. I INVITE THEM TO STAND SO WE MAY HONOUR THEM. [ Applause ] [ Singing in Indigenous Language ] [ Singing in Indigenous Language ] ? WEY H’YA ? [ Singing in Indigenous Language ] [ Singing in Indigenous Language ]

? WEY H’YA, HI-YA ? ? WEY-H’ O, WAY HAGIA ? ? WEY H’YA ? [ Singing in Indigenous Language ] ? WEY H’YA ? [ Singing in Indigenous Language ] [ Applause ] >> MERCI, EMMA STEVENS — >> Voice of Interpreter: THANK YOU, EMMA STEVENS. FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE. OUR NEXT GUEST —

[ Talking simultaneously ] [ Overlapping voices ] PROUD AMBASSADOR — NORMA STABISH. >> [ Speaking Indigenous language ] >> Voice of Interpreter: SIMPLY SAYING YOU LOOK GOOD IN ORANGE TODAY. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY. MAYBE WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL WEATHER WE HAVE. TO MAKE THE SHORT VERSION OF

THE STORY, THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU. I FORGOT. [ Laughter ] >> [ Speaking French ]. >> Voice of Interpreter: I WAS THINKING AT 4:30. TELL THEM THIS, TELL THEM THAT. AT 6:00 I GOT UP AND FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT. I SPEAK FRENCH BECAUSE IT’S MY SECOND LANGUAGE.

I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND MY NAME WAS NOT KISTABISH. IN MY RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL EVERYBODY CALLED ME MONIE, BECAUSE I HAD A DOG WHO HAD THAT NAME. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHEN I LEARNED MY NAME WAS NORMAN KISSTABISH, THEY PUT ME ASIDE TO GIVE ME A NUMBER. 123. THAT WAS MY NUMBER, 123.

AND THEN I LIVED — BAD EXPERIENCED FALLOUT FROM THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS WERE SO AWFUL AND I’LL JUST SET IT ASIDE. SEVERAL TIMES NOW THAT I’VE SPOKEN ABOUT IT. I HAVE NOT HEALED FROM THAT. NOT HAVING WHAT I WOULD CALL AN EXEMPLARY LIFE ALSO. I ALSO UNFORTUNATELY FELL INTO ALCOHOL, DRUGS, SEX.

THOSE WERE SUPPOSED TO TEACH US THE TEACHINGS OF WHOM THEY CALL GOD. THEY ABUSED US. I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THOSE THINGS THEN. BEFORE I DECIDED AND LEARNED FRENCH BY REALLY APPLYING MYSELF TO IT IS WHEN I DECIDED THAT I DIDN’T WANT TO BE PHYSICALLY MAL TREATED. WE WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF BAD CONSEQUENCES,

HUMILIATION. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THERE WERE TWO LADS AT MY AGE APPROXIMATELY AT THE TIME, URINATED IN BED. AND THEY WERE WHIPPED EVERY MORNING. AND WE WERE LINED UPSIDE BY SIDE. POWERLESS AND IT HURT TO SEE THAT HAPPENING AND NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT IT. AWFUL, AWFUL.

I HAVE A LOT OF FRIEND HERE FROM PICOGAM, RELATIONS OF SIBLINGS AND FRIEND, DOZENS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM. I HAVE ALMOST LOST MY LANGUAGE BUT NOT COMPLETELY. I RETURNED INTO THE WOODS IN ORDER TO RELEARN OUR LANGUAGE WITH MY IN-LAWS, WHO ARE NOW LEFT US. BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

BROTHER-IN-LAW TAUGHT ME THE NAMES OF THE TREES, BIRCH, MAPLE AND ALL THE OTHER TREES THAT WE HAVE. AND THE NAMES OF ANIMALS AS WELL. BUT I MIGHT KNOW ONE OR TWO, NOT THE LOT OF THEM. BUT IN THAT DIRECT LINK TO MY RELEARNING OF MY LANGUAGE. TODAY, I DO TO KEEP MY

LANGUAGE IS I WRITE. I HAVE — TRANSLATE DOCUMENTARIES ON HOCKEY. HOCKEY IS A SPORT THAT I LOVED A LOT AND I WAS PRETTY GOOD AT IT. I ALMOST PLAYED AGAINST GUY LAFLEUR AT THE PEEWEE LEVEL IN QUEBEC CITY. AND HE DIDN’T — REALLY DIDN’T LIKE TO LOSE. SOME OF THE FUNNY PARTS OF

MY LIFE THERE. I WENT TWICE TO QUEBEC CITY TO PLAY HOCKEY. IN THE FIRST YEAR WITH THE INDIANS OF QUEBEC. THAT’S WHAT THE NAME WAS ON THE TEAM. MUST QUEECH — PRACTISED FOR A MONTH WITH NEW TEAMMATES THAT I DIDN’T KNOW BUT WHO I GOT TO KNOW OF COURSE.

AND THE SECOND YEAR, IT WAS WITH THE AMOS TEAM. AND THAT’S WHERE THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL WAS. IT WAS CLOSE TO THERE. IT’S IN ABITIBI. TO SHORTEN THE STORY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I LIVED AFTER THAT, LET ME JUST SAY THAT IT WAS AWFUL. I WAS NOT AN EXEMPLARY CITIZEN.

I PRACTISED MANY TRADES, PROFESSIONS. I WAS LEAD EARLY OF MY COMMUNITY, THE CHIEF. I WAS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER. I WENT UP AND WORKED IN THE — AS A SHORT ORDER COOK AND I ALWAYS FOUND SOMETHING TO DO. I WAS A TRUE SURVIVOR EVERYWHERE I SET FOOT. I LEARNED EVEN MY ENGLISH. AH.

[ End of interpretation ] . >> I COULDN’T SPEAK ENGLISH. >> Voice of Interpreter: I WAS IN ENGLISH IMMERSION WAY UP NORTH. MAGNETIC WHEN YOU LOOK AT A COMPASS I WAS 400 KILOMETRES, OR 400 MILES — YEAH, IT WAS THE OLD DAYS. AND THERE WAS ONLY ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE THERE.

WHAT WAS I DOING UP THERE ANYWAYS? WHAT THE HECK WAS I UP TO? WELL, IT WAS PART OF MY FLEEING ALCOHOL, DRUGS. AND WHERE I WENT, THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL. I DON’T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT WAS I SOMEWHAT INSECURE PAUSE I WAS CRAVING BUT ALSO I WANTED TO STOP.

AND ALL ALONE, IT WAS A FIGHT, CONTINUOUS FIGHT, A STRUGGLE BECAUSE I WASN’T ASKING FOR HELP. AS YOU GET OLDER, I UNDERSTOOD THAT I ACTUALLY DID NEED HELP, AS MOST OF THOSE WHO WENT TO RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL AND LIVED A ROUGH LIFE LIKE ME. YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT HERE.

AND I TRANSMITTED THAT, PASSED IT ON TO MY CHILDREN. AND IT’S WORTH THAT I CONTINUE TO HELP IMPROVE MY HEALING PATH WITH MY FAMILY, MY COMMUNITY, ALL PEOPLE THAT I HAD HURT. IMAGINE, I WAS THE CHIEF OF THE BAND. I JUST WANTED — WHEN THEY PUT ME UP TO BE CHIEF I JUST

WANTED TO KNOW HOW POPULAR I WAS BY RUNNING AND I SAID YEAH, SURE. I’LL RUN. AND I BEAT MY ADVERSARIES, COMPLETELY SQUASHED HIM. I SHOULDN’T BE TOO PROUD OF THAT. BUT ANYWAY, THERE IT IS. AND IN THOSE DAYS, WE WERE STARTING TO MANAGE OURSELVES AND CERTAIN PROGRAMS LIKE ADMINISTRATION, HEALTH,

EDUCATION SLOWLY BUT SURELY IN MY VILLAGE. AT LEAST FOR THAT PART I DID IT AND IT’S BEEN A VERY HONOUR TO THIS DAY. WE’RE NOT FINISHED YET. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PEOPLE BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR, IT HELPS ME SPEAK OUT TO THINGS THAT I DIDN’T WANT TO

TALK ABOUT AND I’M GIVING IT TO YOU. IT BELONGS TO YOU. IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US, COME OUT OF ME. AND YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL IN ALL YOUR ORANGE SHIRTS THERE. MIIGWETCH. [ Applause ] >> [ Speaking French ] >> Voice of Interpreter: THANK YOU. >> OUR FINAL SPEAKER HAS

DEDICATED HER LIFE TO THE BETTERMENT HER COMMUNITY, RANKIN INLET AND TO NUNAVUT AT LARGE. AMONGST HER MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN HEALTH CARE AND POLITICS, SHE HELPED ESTABLISH THE RANKIN INLET BIRTHING CENTRE. SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR FOR RANKIN INLET AND WAS M.L.A. FOR HER REGION IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF

NUNAVUT FROM 2004 TO 2008. >> BIENVENUE. [ Applause ] >> Voice of Interpreter: MOREOVER HER COMMUNITY WORK CONTINUES TO BEAR FRUIT TO THIS DAY. PLEASE WELCOME DR. VENNIA BROWN. [ Applause ] >> HELLO TO YOU ALL. MY NAME IS LAVINIA BROWN. IN INUK LEVINIA MEANS SPIDERWEB. I’M A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL

SURVIVOR FROM RANKIN INLET. I’M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY TRUTH WITH YOU. SHARING HAS ALWAYS HELPED ME THROUGH THE PAIN OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS EXPERIENCE. I WENT TO AN INSTITUTION IN CHESTERFIELD INLET. IT WAS A VERY SCARY PLACE, FILLED WITH SADNESS FROM ALL OF US CHILDREN WHO WERE

FORCED TO BE THERE AND AWAY FROM THE FAMILIES. I WASN’T ALLOWED TO SPEAK MY LANGUAGE, INUKTITUT. NONE OF US. IF I WAS CAUGHT, I WAS PUNISHED, BEATEN. WE WERE ALL. AND WE DIDN’T KNOW ENGLISH. SO WE BARELY SPEAK AT ALL. BUT WE HAD EACH OTHER. AND WE DIDN’T OFTEN USE WORDS.

HOW COULD WE? THERE WERE NO WORDS. WE WERE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER, TRYING TO GET THROUGH IT TOGETHER. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WERE THREE STRONG INUIT SURVIVORS WHO BRAVELY SPOKE TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN 1987 ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS. THEY GAVE US A VOICE, AND

THEY GAVE US COURAGE TO SPEAK ABOUT EXPERIENCES AND HOW DAMAGING THEY WERE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF YOU AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO US AND THAT YOU HEAR US AND ACKNOWLEDGE HOW THIS AFFECTED INUIT PEOPLE AND OTHER NATIONS, OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. BUT TODAY I SEE CHANGE,

ESPECIALLY WITH OUR YOUNG GENERATION. THEY ARE WORKING TO REGAIN THEIR INUIT CULTURE, LANGUAGES AND TRADITIONS. AND BEING HERE WITH YOU TODAY AND ALL THOSE WATCHING, IT BRINGS US HOPE, HOPE FOR HEALING, HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION AND HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE INUIT PEOPLE AND OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

THERE’S FOUR WORDS I LIKE TO LEAVE WITH YOU. AND THE FOUR WORDS HAVE FOUR LETTERS IN THEM. EACH ONE HAVE FOUR LETTERS IN THEM. LOVE. LET’S SHOW MORE LOVE. I SEE SO MANY OF YOU WEARING ORANGE, ORANGE T-SHIRTS, SOMETHING ORANGE. I APPRECIATE THAT. CARE. LET’S SHOW MORE CARE TO ONE ANOTHER. TIME.

LET’S USE THAT WORD MORE AND PASS IT ON FOR EVERYBODY. SHARE. I TOLD YOU THAT SHARING ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL PETTER, ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL I HAVE HOPE. AND LASTLY I LIKE TO THANK THE NDTR AND STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK. WITHOUT THEM, I DOUBT IF WE WOULD BE HERE TODAY.

[ Speaking Indigenous Language ] [ Applause ] [ Cheering ] >> [ Speaking French ] LEVINIA BROWN. MIIGWETCH. >> Voice of Interpreter: WE THANK LEVINIA BROWN. THANK YOU. >> [ Speaking French ] [ Overlapping voices ] >> Voice of Interpreter: BUT BEFORE WE HAVE A LAST ARTIST THAT IS A RISING STAR.

[ End of interpretation ] >> MANY OF THE SONGS ON HIS FIRST ALBUM WERE INSPIRED BY HIS GRANDFATHER, WHO SHARED HIS EXPERIENCES AS A SURVIVOR OF McINTOSH RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL IN ONTARIO. [ Applause ] ? SO IF YOU RECONCILE ?? ? SO THAT WE CAN RECONCILE ? [ Singing ]

? DOES IT FEEL LIKE ? ? WE’RE ON THE EDGE ? ? DOES IT FEEL LIKE ? ? THE STORY ENDS ? ? BEFORE IT STARTS ? [ Singing ] ? STORY ? ? IT’S IN OUR BLOOD ? ? WE GO JUST LIKE THE DAY ? ? GETS TO KNOW HIS LANGUAGE ?

? A DAY, A WEEK, A YEAR ?? ?? JUST LIKE A SHIRT ? ? WE WERE HERE ? ? MEMORIES ? ? WE WERE HERE ? ? IN THESE PLACES ? ? ? ? IT’S IN OUR BLOOD ? ? IT’S IN OUR BLOOD ?? [ ??? ] [ “We were here” ]

AYSANABEE. [ Applause and cheering ] >> WE CONCLUDE THIS AFTERNOON, MUCH LIKE WE BEGAN, WITH CEREMONY. AS WE RETIRE THE EAGLE STAFF AND BENTWOOD BOX — [ Speaking French ] >> Voice of Interpreter: WE INVITE YOU TO STAY HERE TO CONTINUE THE COMMEMORATION. >> NATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.

KNACKOME FOR BEING HERE WITH US TO HONOUR RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS AND TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO DID NOT MAKE IT HOME. AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE T.R.C., BECAUSE IT’S ALL UP TO US TO MAKE SURE RECONCILIATION ISN’T JUST AN IDEA BUT AN ACTION. >> [ Speaking French ]

>> Voice of Interpreter: CENTRE FOR

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was marked by a special live event in Ottawa.

Subscribe to CTV News to watch more videos:

Connect with CTV News:
For the latest news visit:
For a full video offering visit the CTV News Network:

CTV News on Facebook:
CTV News on TikTok:
CTV News on Twitter:
CTV News on Instagram:
CTV News on Reddit:

—
CTV News is Canada’s most-watched news organization both locally and nationally, and has a network of national, international, and local news operations.

Reference