'A sea of orange': Saskatoon marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with march
Shirley Isbister had trouble believing her eyes Friday as she stood at the bottom of Victoria Park in Saskatoon watching more than 1,000 people dressed in orange shirts pour in from the street above for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“It looked like miles, like just a sea of orange. My heart was so full,” she said, with a smile on her face.
Isbister, the president of the Central Urban Metis Federation Inc. (CUMFI), has been a central figure in the area for reconciliation and Indigenous issues. She’s worked closely with community groups and the city to make sure Saskatoon takes reconciliation to heart year-round.
She’s spent countless hours honouring her culture, residential school survivors and improving the lives of Indigenous people in the province.
“The day is about honoring our survivors,” she said. “I think we do that in the best way that we can. You look at how happy they were today.”
Mayor Charlie Clark led the Rock Your Roots walk to the “Where our Paths Cross” Reconciliation Circle art installation in Victoria Park alongside singers and drummers from Young Scouts Drum Group. He didn’t just walk along, he grabbed a drum and led the sea of people to the park.
“We can only do this as a community. No one person, no one leader, no one can do the work of Truth and Reconciliation. It can only be done with all of us stepping forward together,” Clark said.
“It shows his dedication and his effort to participate and to show his leadership,” drummer Darrell Paskimin said. “That is the thing that I’m always going to remember about this day.”
‘PEOPLE OF EVERY CULTURE’
When Clark arrived at the park, turned and saw the hundreds upon hundreds of people following him down to the park, he couldn’t help but shed a tear and get emotional at the number of people spending time to mark the day.
“I don't want any child to have to grow up living in a society where they feel like they're on the outside of society,” he said. “It means a lot to be able to try and play whatever part I can play to help to build that path forward.”
Isbister said city officials and leaders taking reconciliation seriously sets an example for the community.
“It boosts up the city -- it's a city that participated today, not just the core area or just Indigenous people,” Isbister said of Clark not just participating, but leading the activities.
“There was people of every culture there. And that's what reconciliation is about. Diversity and coming together.”
Friday’s walk took a different path than previous years. People walked down 20th Street West where a portion of the Orange Banner Project route displays messages of reconciliation on light poles across the city.
As part of the celebrations, runners from Wild Athletics and the University of Saskatchewan ran from College Drive, where another portion of the Orange Banner Project is on display. Both groups were introduced from under Reconciliation Circle to a roaring applause from the masses.
Métis dancers entertained the crowd between drumming songs when the entertainment portion began.
HONOUR AND RECONCILIATION
Speakers spoke of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action being an obligation and not just a recommendation.
Clark spoke about the need to keep up the momentum all the time, and urged everyone to keep learning more and honouring residential school survivors.
Isbister was honoured with a pair of moccasins as a gift from Gilles Dorval, a co-founder of Reconciliation Saskatoon, on behalf of Residential School Survivors.
Not one to accept gifts, Isbister first refused to accept the gift until she heard who it was from.
“When I received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, they said it's the highest award that you can receive in Saskatchewan,” Isbister said. “But the highest award you can receive anywhere in Canada is to be honored by the survivors.”
After more than 2,000 suspected graves of children buried at more than 140 former residential schools across Canada were discovered over the past two years, there is some sombre reflections that come along with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. For Paskimin, he feels hope for the future.
“It's just a day of just positive energy,” he said. “I feel hopeful for the future of all nations.
The festivities at Victoria Park wrapped up with three survivors dancing around the stage, something which Isbister said it made her want to cry since culture was stripped away from these women as children when they entered their respective residential schools.
In the spirit of reconciliation, the whole crowd ended the event by coming together, joining hands and participating in a round dance.
“We learn and we listen. “Every day is reconciliation. You need to hear the truth and speak the truth before we can have reconciliation, and so we all need to be a part of that,” Isbister said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.