Today is a day of remembrance and reflection around the country. In Belleville and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Truth and Reconciliation Day was honoured in Market Square in Downtown Belleville.
Truth and Reconciliation Day is a federal holiday in Canada held on Sep 30 each year to honour the survivors of the residential school system, their families, and the communities still impacted by the system’s legacy, as well as remembering the children who died at the schools. The last residential school operated until 1996.
The ceremony in Market Square included remarks from Belleville Councillor Sean Kelly, Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis, Chief R. Don Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and musical performances by Mohawk singer, songwriter, educator and artist Jennifer Brant and husband, Kieran Edwards, as well as a Sacred Fire and special presentation by Fire Keeper Greg Loft.
The opening ceremony was presented by community strongholder, Lori Borthwick, who ran twice to be Bay of Quinte MPP under the Green Party.
Residential school survivor, Wilbert Maracle of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, also took the stage, thanking everyone who came out and those who continue to support Truth and Reconciliation Day in the region. Maracle recently did a video explaining his experience in the residential school system, which can be watched on YouTube at this link. Maracle is 90-years-old today.
In addition to today’s ceremony, the Belleville sign, Bridge Street Bridge and Fire Station #1 Memorial Garden will be lit in orange for the week. The flag at City Hall will also be lowered to half-staff as we remember and mourn all victims of the residential school system.
“Over 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools from the 1870s to the 1990s. More than 130 residential schools operated in Canada. Many children suffered emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and were forbidden to speak their language or practice their culture,” said Councillor Kelly.
“In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released 94 Calls to Action. Now, ten years later, 17 of these have been completed. Today is also known as Orange Shirt Day. The story behind this started with Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor. When she was six, on her first day of school, she wore an orange shirt that was gifted to her by her grandmother. That shirt was taken from her. Phyllis launched Orange Shirt Day in 2013 to honour survivors of residential schools and those who never made it home. Today shines light on ‘Every Child Matters’.”
Chief R. Don Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte said native people were very much apart of the critical junctures of the history of this country, but doesn’t feel reconciliation has been achieved.
“Often times, that gets played down. The white settlers were seen as being industrious, they cleared the land, grew vegetables, brought Christianity with them and civilized the Indians. The French people were calling us ‘the savages’. Villages were attacked along this area and took prisoners and kept them captive. Two years later, they retaliated by doing the same thing – burning the houses of captures, torturing them, sending a message of ‘If we can’t have peace, you won’t have peace either’,” he said.
“Then, the policy of the French changed to one of conciliation. They were gearing up for another battle to take our traditional territory in 1700. The French Governor called a conference in Montreal in 1700 and 1701. The 1701 Treaty was born where the First Nations agreed to share the land for their hunting purposes. Now today, our people have to fight MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) to have our hunting rights recognized. Is that reconciliation? They do not know the history, they are put into jobs where they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
To support National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, people are asked to wear orange, educate yourself and others about the history of residential schools, attend local events or ceremonies, support Indigenous artists and businesses, and donate to Indigenous-led organizations.
If you or someone you know needs support, call the National Crisis Line for Residential School Survivors and Families at 1-866-925-4419 or the Hope for Wellness Helpline at 1-855-242-3310 for 24/7 emotional and crisis support.
(HAILEY MACDONALD)
