Unreserved54:00NDTR: Sharing a way forward
Marie Wilson wants the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to be embraced by all Canadians. But she has concerns about how the day is being observed.
“I do notice with some concern, actually, that even over the past couple of years the number of non-Indigenous people who show up and celebrate that day is not stable,” Wilson, a former commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, told Unreserved host Rosanna Deerchild.
This year marks the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed annually on Sept. 30. In 2015, the commission called on the federal government to establish the statutory holiday to honour residential school survivors, their families and communities.
“There was a reason why we argued for it in our Calls to Action to be a national statutory holiday,” said Wilson. “We want it to be something that belongs to all Canadians.”
As a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Marie Wilson fought for the creation of a national holiday recognizing the impact of residential schools. This year will mark the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — but Wilson is concerned about how the day is commemorated by non-Indigenous Canadians. Wilson spoke with Unreserved host Rosanna Deerchild about her concerns, how she addresses residential school deniers, and her thoughts on the idea of “allyship.”
She wants the day to play a role in keeping Canadians attuned to our history, making sure the impacts of the residential school system are never forgotten.
“Make sure you’re doing something meaningful for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation … and that it’s not a one-day event, that you’re thinking about the implications of that,” she said.
For her, the commission’s only non-Indigenous commissioner, continuing the work means using her skills as a journalist and educator to continue sharing the stories of survivors.
Unreserved spoke to two event organizers to hear from their experience how to meaningfully honour residential school survivors on this day.
From healing walk to Reconciliation Run
Tréchelle Bunn founded the Reconciliation Run, which takes place on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It began as a healing walk, inspired by her late grandparents who were survivors of the Birtle Residential School.
Bunn says the statutory holiday is first and foremost a day for elders and survivors to share their stories, and to remember those that never made it home.
“But I think when we talk about reconciliation, our non-Indigenous counterparts have a major, vital role in all of that as well,” she added.
Since the run began, Bunn has seen growing numbers of non-Indigenous runners join in. Residents of Birtle, Man., have also donated food and volunteered at water stations.
“It’s been beautiful, and good for the relationship between my community and the town of Birtle.”
One interaction with a non-Indigenous participant at the first run stands out to her.
At the finish line, the participant told Bunn that her grandfather had worked at the Birtle Residential School.
“She said, ‘I’m here today owning my truth, and my family’s truth, and my family’s impact in the residential school system.’ That really just stunned me,” Bunn recalled.
The woman returned for the next Reconciliation Run in 2023. After survivors spoke, she offered an apology on behalf of her grandfather.
“A lot of the elders and survivors in my community were crying,” Bunn said. “To have an apology on behalf of a descendant from someone who worked there, it really touched a lot of them and I think it helped a lot of them in their healing journeys.”
Survivors at the centre
Shirley Cheechoo describes herself as a residential school warrior — a term she uses instead of “survivor.”
She believes that with the term, “we empower our communities, we empower our warriors, we empower our youth.”
Cheechoo is the director of the Weengushk International Film Festival on Manitoulin Island in Ontario. To open the film festival this past July, Cheechoo organized the Blanket of Stars, a procession of warriors draped in star blankets, which symbolize healing.
Cheechoo says these warriors often aren’t included in events meant to celebrate them.
“There’s a lot of celebrations happening across this country and we don’t even get invited. I’ve never been invited to any ceremonies, or celebrations, or honouring events, and I’m 72 years old,” said Cheechoo.
The procession crossed a swing bridge in the town of Little Current, Ont., and was greeted by drummers, dancers and community members.
“There wasn’t just Indigenous people on the other side, and it was really, really nice to see other faces amongst the crowd that came to support, and came to listen to the whole history of what these 50 warriors had gone through.”
Cheechoo wants to see the support for residential school survivors continue and grow.
“They need to be honoured. They need to be celebrated,” she said.