Truth and Reconciliation

Co-founders of the Victoria chapter of Orange Shirt Day Eddy Charlie and Kristin Spray stand with a framed orange shirt featuring a design by Indigenous artist Bear Horne and a quote from Charlie. This shirt is on display in the B.C. legislature following a presentation ceremony on Oct. 27. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Spray)

Framed orange shirt in B.C. legislature Hall of Honour culminates two years of work

Residential school survivor Eddy Charlie hopes display promotes healing, honest discussion

 

Passers-by stop to take a photo of the grave of former Canadian prime minister Mackenzie King in Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Friday, October 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Federal officials rethink wording of markers at gravesites of past prime ministers

Plaques are being rethought specifically in light of historical mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to a press conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

‘An added insult’: Tk’emlúps slam Trudeau for not responding to Truth and Reconciliation invites

Prime minister travelled to Tofino on Sept. 30 and did not attend any ceremonies

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau vacationing at a beachfront property in Tofino on Sept. 30. (Nora O’Malley photo)

VIDEO: Justin Trudeau ‘regrets’ trip to Tofino on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

“It was a mistake to travel on that day”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau vacationing at a beachfront property in Tofino on Sept. 30. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers his remarks during a ceremony on Parliament Hill on the eve of the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Wednesday, September 29, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Trudeau apologizes to Tk’emlúps chief for not attending truth and reconciliation ceremony

Tk’emlúps Kúkpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir mentioned the prime minister had been invited

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers his remarks during a ceremony on Parliament Hill on the eve of the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Wednesday, September 29, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation members Timmy Masso and Hjalmer Wenstob lead a gathering outside the Tofino beachfront property Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is currently staying in to demand an apology on a rainy Saturday evening. (Andrew Bailey photo)

First Nations members demand apology from Trudeau in Tofino

“It’s sad that we don’t expect much from leadership anymore”

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation members Timmy Masso and Hjalmer Wenstob lead a gathering outside the Tofino beachfront property Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is currently staying in to demand an apology on a rainy Saturday evening. (Andrew Bailey photo)
The t-shirts of attendees at Campbell River’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation ceremony illustrate the continual effect of Canada’s residential school system on multiple generations. (Ronan O’Doherty, Campbell River Mirror)

West Coast B.C. chief says shadow of residential schools `gets longer and longer’

Homalco Chief Darren Blaney: ‘Before (Kamloops) … nobody took the genocide seriously’

The t-shirts of attendees at Campbell River’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation ceremony illustrate the continual effect of Canada’s residential school system on multiple generations. (Ronan O’Doherty, Campbell River Mirror)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau vacationing at a beachfront property in Tofino on Sept. 30. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Trudeau spends National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with family in Tofino

PM says he spoke on the phone with survivors, Tofino event organizers disappointed he didn’t attend

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau vacationing at a beachfront property in Tofino on Sept. 30. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Thousands of people follow residential school survivors, Indigenous leaders, elders and youth on a walk to Semiahmoo First Nation lands during National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Aaron Hinks photo)

PHOTOS: ‘Orange sea’ floods White Rock beach for National Day for Truth and Reconcilation

‘We’re all in this canoe together, we just got to make sure we’re paddling in the same direction’

Thousands of people follow residential school survivors, Indigenous leaders, elders and youth on a walk to Semiahmoo First Nation lands during National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Aaron Hinks photo)
Stz’uminus elder George Harris sang the nation’s anthem and shared the story behind it at an event for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. at Transfer beach. (Photo by Tyler Hay)

PHOTOS: B.C. marks 1st National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 marked the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in…

Stz’uminus elder George Harris sang the nation’s anthem and shared the story behind it at an event for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. at Transfer beach. (Photo by Tyler Hay)
Skookum Surrey hosted an event at Holland Park Thursday (Sept. 30) to commemorate the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. The federal statutory holiday coincides with Orange Shirt Day. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

‘We want you to be a witness here today’: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation draws hundreds in Surrey

Skookum Surrey-hosted event included speakers, drumming, smudging

Skookum Surrey hosted an event at Holland Park Thursday (Sept. 30) to commemorate the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. The federal statutory holiday coincides with Orange Shirt Day. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Hundreds gathered to honour the inaugrual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Sept. 30. They walked nearly four kilometres to bring awareness and healing to residential school survivors and victims. (Adam Louis/Observer)

VIDEO: ‘We are all brothers and sisters’ Sts’ailes chief imparts words of healing, hope on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Hundreds of people walked with the Sts’ailes First Nation to remember residential school victims

Hundreds gathered to honour the inaugrual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Sept. 30. They walked nearly four kilometres to bring awareness and healing to residential school survivors and victims. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Governor General Mary Simon speaks during the Presentation of Canadian Honours at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on September 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Truth and Reconciliation Day personal for new governor general, Mary May Simon

Daughter of a white father and Inuk mother, May Simon was not forced into residential school

Governor General Mary Simon speaks during the Presentation of Canadian Honours at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on September 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Orange Shirt Day founders Joan Sorley and Phyllis Webstad took part in a vigil on Canada Day in Williams Lake at Herb Gardner Park. Their work inspired the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Angie Mindus file photo)

‘In awe’: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation huge for Orange Shirt Day founders

Phyllis Webstad and Joan Sorley started the movement leading to national holiday in 2013

Orange Shirt Day founders Joan Sorley and Phyllis Webstad took part in a vigil on Canada Day in Williams Lake at Herb Gardner Park. Their work inspired the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Angie Mindus file photo)
A memorial is displayed on Parliament Hill as ceremonies take place for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canadians urged to donate one day’s pay to Indigenous groups on Sept. 30

Organization says it’s a way for all Canadians to mark the new holiday

A memorial is displayed on Parliament Hill as ceremonies take place for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel speaks to the Sacred Hearts Catholic Church burning down early Monday morning, June 21, 2021. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Penticton Indian Band Chief and Council denounce Truth and Reconciliation Day

No substantive actions to date to show a sincere commitment for reconciliation, says Chief Gabriel

Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel speaks to the Sacred Hearts Catholic Church burning down early Monday morning, June 21, 2021. (Monique Tamminga Western News)
Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir speaks during a news conference ahead of a ceremony to honour residential school survivors and mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in Kamloops, BC., on Thursday, September 30, 2021. The remains of 215 children were discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School earlier this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Indigenous leaders call for ‘concrete action’ on first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

215 unmarked graves of missing children were found on the grounds of the Kamloops residential school

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir speaks during a news conference ahead of a ceremony to honour residential school survivors and mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in Kamloops, BC., on Thursday, September 30, 2021. The remains of 215 children were discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School earlier this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

‘It has to be heard’: Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor recounts torture he endured

Melven (Sx̄wen) Jones was forcibly held for two years

Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
The For the Children Caravan, made up of members of the Syilx Okanagan Nation Alliance’s constituent First Nations, including the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, departed from Penticton on June 30 to head to the site of the Kamloops Residential School where 215 children’s bodies were uncovered. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

‘Truth and Reconciliation is an action, not a day off’: Lower Similkameen Indian Band Chief

Many left wondering over new statutory Truth and Reconciliation Day, says Chief Keith Crow

The For the Children Caravan, made up of members of the Syilx Okanagan Nation Alliance’s constituent First Nations, including the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, departed from Penticton on June 30 to head to the site of the Kamloops Residential School where 215 children’s bodies were uncovered. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Shoes are placed on the lawn outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School to honour 215 children after it was announced that ground-penetrating radar had detected unmarked graves near the facility in Kamloops, B.C., on June 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada marks first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Numerous Indigenous nations reported unmarked graves at former residential school sites

Shoes are placed on the lawn outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School to honour 215 children after it was announced that ground-penetrating radar had detected unmarked graves near the facility in Kamloops, B.C., on June 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck