Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Across the country, hundreds of local activities are taking place that commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools.
Two organizations in Nipissing-Timiskaming will receive funding to aid in those efforts.
The Department of Canadian Heritage will invest $20,000 through the Celebration and Commemoration Program, Truth and Reconciliation stream to the Keepers of the Circle organization in New Liskeard and Nipissing First Nation.
The Honourable Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, says “It is so important to recognize and commemorate the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. This is a vital component of the reconciliation process, and we must work together with Indigenous communities to make that happen.”
The Keepers of the Circle will receive $10,000 for their Annual Every Child Matters Pow Wow for National Truth and Reconciliation Day in the District of Temiskaming.
Bertha Cormier, the Executive Director of Keepers of Circle commented, “Our annual pow wow brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together to acknowledge the historical realities of our Indigenous Peoples and provides an opportunity for community members to reconnect and/or experience Indigenous culture.”
As well, Nipissing First Nation will receive $10,000 to host events related to Truth and Reconciliation Day.
“With this funding, Nipissing First Nation will host survivors and the community to a day of ceremony, healing, and a feast,” says Nipissing First Nation Chief, Scott McLeod. “Acknowledging the history and legacy of residential schools brings the strength of our community together to ignite the conversation of Truth in that history.”
Rota says, “September 30th also marks Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. I encourage everyone in Nipissing-Timiskaming to wear Orange on September 30th.”
