Reconciliation Week Acknowledges Residential School Survivors

By Emily Jackson
The Metro
September 16, 2013

http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/795912/reconciliation-week-acknowledges-residential-school-survivors/

Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King speaks at the Let Freedom Ring ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. King, the daughter of former American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., will deliver the keynote address in Vancouver at the start of a walk for reconciliation related to Canada's residential school system.

It’s a chance to hear the truth about the injustices of Indian Residential Schools, to celebrate the resilience of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and to work towards healing and reconciliation.

The B.C. government has proclaimed this week Reconciliation Week to honour the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s sixth national event in Vancouver from Sept. 18 to 22.

The event, mandated as a result of the 2007 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, aims to raise awareness about Canada’s government-funded, church-run residential schools, the last of which closed in 1996.

More than 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were plucked from their families and placed in schools with mandates to kill their culture. Many suffered physical and sexual abuse; others died.

It’s an ugly story that must be told so no future government considers such a policy, said Grand Chief Doug Kelly, chair of the First Nations Health Council.

“If you do not learn from mistakes of the past, you’re doomed to repeat it,” Kelly said.

While the experience is different for each survivor and sharing stories often brings up pain, grief and sorrow, these gatherings acknowledge the trauma and can help people begin to move forward, Kelly said.

Survivors of the schools, which continue to leave lasting harm on subsequent generations, are encouraged to give their statements as the TRC works to create a record of what happened. (This can be done in private at the PNE.)

The week kicks off Monday with the lighting of a sacred fire at Ambleside Beach, features an All Nations Canoe Gathering in False Creek on Tuesday and culminates with the Walk for Reconciliation on Sunday.

Aboriginals and non-aboriginals alike are also encouraged to attend sharing and learning events at the PNE Wednesday through Saturday.

UBC and Emily Carr will suspend classes on Sept. 18 and Sept. 20 respectively to allow students, faculty and staff to participate in the events.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King, will address crowds before Sunday’s 4-kilometre march at Queen Elizabeth Plaza at 9 a.m.