People march from Parliament Hill during Canada鈥檚 first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, honouring the lost children and survivors of Indigenous residential schools, their families and communities, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada September 30, 2021. REUTERS/Blair Gable
OTTAWA聽 鈥� Canada on Thursday held its the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honor the lost children and survivors of indigenous schools, following the gruesome discovery of more than 1,000 unmarked graves聽 at two former schools earlier this year.
The so-called residential school聽 聽system, which operated between 1831 and 1996, removed about 150,000 indigenous children from their families. Some were subjected them to abuse, rape and malnutrition at schools in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 called 鈥渃ultural genocide.鈥�
Run by the government and Christian churches 鈥� mostly Catholic 鈥� the schools鈥� stated aim was to assimilate indigenous children. Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 government created the new federal holiday in June.
鈥淚 urge you to pause and reflect on Canada鈥檚 full history,鈥� said Governor General Mary May Simon, the first聽 aboriginal person to serve as the representative in Canada of its head of state, Queen Elizabeth.
鈥淒o it to honor those indigenous children who experienced or witnessed cruel injustices. Many emerged traumatized, many still suffer pain,鈥� she added in a statement.
The queen sent a message, saying she joined with Canadians 鈥渢o reflect on the painful history that Indigenous peoples endured in聽residential schools in Canada, and on the work that remains to heal and to continue to build an inclusive society.鈥�
The discovery of the unmarked graves reopened the deep wounds left by the European colonization of Canada and the subsequent efforts to assimilate indigenous cultures. Today indigenous peoples suffer from higher levels of poverty and violence, and shorter life expectancies.
鈥淥n this first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we reflect on the lasting impacts of residential schools,鈥� Trudeau said on Thursday, a day after marking the holiday at an event held on the lawn in front of parliament. 鈥淲e remember the children who never made it home.鈥�
A ceremony was held in front of parliament on Thursday, and there were similar events around the country. Later, there will be a one-hour national broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) and other channels with the stories and perspectives of those affected by the residential school system.
鈥淭ake this new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to set aside the impact of the untruthful version of history that has long been presented and to learn from Indigenous voices,鈥� said former Senator Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Indigenous leaders have said the day should be recognized also by provinces, so that it is not limited to federal employees. For example Ontario, the most populous province, is not recognizing the holiday and so schools, the stock market and most businesses remain open.
鈥淚f the (Ontario) government fails to properly acknowledge the theft of thousands of our children, that is part of the problem. They are the problem,鈥� Sol Mamakwa, a New Democrat indigenous lawmaker in the Ontario legislature, told the CBC.
Multiple cities scrapped Canada Day聽 celebrations on July 1 after the discovery of hundreds of children鈥檚 remains, and the government has ordered all federal buildings to fly the flag at half mast since May 30.