Well good morning I’m Natalie colada and this is CBC News Network today is a day of reflection recognition and reaffirmation across Canada it is the third annual national day for Truth and Reconciliation a time to pause and confront this country’s shameful Legacy of residential schools and to reconsider
The next steps on what is a long journey of healing a national gathering on Parliament Hill in Ottawa is just one of the many events that will be held today beginning at 1 pm Eastern and we will have full live coverage when that gets underway our Olivia stefanovich is there
To set things up for us today this morning Olivia let’s talk about sort of the significance of this day and just why it’s more than just symbolism for so many hmm well Natalie I’m on Parliament Hill here where people are already starting to gather to Mark the third national day
For Truth and Reconciliation you may you might be able to see a couple people with orange shirts on behind me there’s also a large stage set up for an event that will be put on by the Aboriginal people’s television network and the national Center For Truth and Reconciliation where where we will hear
From residential school survivors directly and the location of this event is significant it’s surrounded by the buildings of parliament where the residential school policy in Canada was born and where Canada’s first prime minister Sir John A McDonald stood up in the House of Commons in 1883 and explained that the policy of residential
Schools wasn’t just to educate indigenous children he actually went on to say Natalie that it’s not enough to teach indigenous children’s children in their own communities with their families that Canada actually has to take these children away from their communities away from their families to ensure that they adopt the thoughts and
Habits he said of white men so that is the the purpose of residential schools as Johnny MacDonald saw it and it’s something that was upheld by the federal government for more than a century so today is a day of awareness it’s a day of education but it’s also a day of
Resilience a day to remind Canada that indigenous peoples are still here their culture is being revitalized and it’s also a way to show that the culture is still vibrant and to show that residential school survivors did in fact survive and they are here to share their stories and reclaiming of that power we
Have heard from so many Olivia I’m wondering if you can talk to us a little bit more about your interview with the minister for crown and Indigenous relations about today can you tell us a little bit about the conversations you had with him yeah I had the chance to catch up with
Gary and then Sangaree he was at an event in Toronto and he was quite candid talking about his role the way he sees his purpose being shuffled into this new role as the current indigenous relations Minister just over the summer so he’s new to this position but he knows the
Issues well and he says that reconciliation is the most important job for his government let’s take a listen now to his message on this national day for Truth and Reconciliation it’s about Canada living up to its past and facing up to the reality that Canada failed as a nation that successive
Governments failed and for us today it’s about understanding how we move forward is to support each other to support and learn uh from from each other and to move forward in a manner where this will never happen again this kid never governor general Mary Simon released a
Statement today on the national day for Truth and Reconciliation Simon is the first indigenous governor general and she says that today is not just about reflecting it’s a date of action and there are specific things that Canadians can do today she says that they can listen to survivors honor the memory of
The children who died and who never came home and also learn from the mistakes of the past to make sure that this never happens again Olivia thank you very much to cbc’s Olivia stefanovich on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for us
Today is the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to pause and confront Canada’s shameful legacy of residential schools, and to reconsider the next steps in a long journey of healing. A gathering on Parliament Hill in Ottawa is just one of the many events that will be held today.
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available to provide support for survivors and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour service at 1-866-925-4419.
Mental health counselling and crisis support is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat.
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