'Every Child Matters' walk in Morley, Alta., recognizes residential school atrocities
Indigenous community members and their allies gathered in Morley, Alta., on Friday to recognize the intergenerational traumas of Canada’s residential school system.
The second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was commemorated with an "Every Child Matters" walk between the McDougall Memorial United Church and the Morley United Church.
Both sites carry a long and painful history for those impacted, including Valentia Fox of the Îethka First Nation, who attended residential school at Morley United.
“For us to heal, we have to tell the stories, the ugly truth that happened to residential school students. The greater society needs to hear our stories and to believe us, because we experienced it,” Fox said.
“Once that truth is out of your body, not just out of your mind, but out of your body, then it's easier to start working on healing.”
Fox spent 11 years attending residential school. She told the story of her first day, when her mother made her brand-new moccasins that were quickly taken from her by her teachers.
“Once we were there and our parents left, we were taken down to the basement, stripped of our clothes, doused with kerosene and then shoved under showers,” Fox said.
“And then later, the teachers hired a dentist to come to the school and work on children’s teeth. He pulled our teeth with no anesthetic and when we cried, he slapped us and said, ‘Shut up, you stupid little Indian.’”
Those painful memories are why a couple hundred people marched Friday in honour of the children who didn’t survive.
Walk organizer Eve Powder is a survivor of the David Bearspaw Indian School and said she was overwhelmed by the support of community members.
“Moving forward, I just want everyone to know that we're all in this together,” Powder said.
“Sometimes, I just don't want to talk about it because it just hurts. It really hurts, but we need to come together.”
The second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was commemorated with an "Every Child Matters" walk between the McDougall Memorial United Church and the Morley United Church.
The event was also meaningful for family members of residential school survivors, including Shyles Smalleyes, whose grandparents attended residential school.
He emphasized the importance of education for younger generations.
“We need more people to listen because the more they stick around, the more they understand what happened,” Smalleyes said.
Young children attending the event who are just learning about residential schools agree that there’s no reconciliation without first learning of the past.
Akayla Haynes is just 10 years old, but she’s looking forward to listening for years to come.
“I get to see all the different cultures and find out what other people have been through,” she said.
“Events like this show that lots of people are supporting this and I'm happy about that because back in time, not many people cared.”
Friday’s event included several speakers, a powwow and a safe space for residential or day school survivors to share their stories.
For Fox, the hope is that reconciliation conversations continue to create more positive changes for Indigenous peoples in the future.
“Forgiveness, I think, is key, and forgiveness will help us move forward,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
South Korean sentenced to 14 months in jail for killing 76 cats
South Korean man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for killing 76 cats in one of the country's most gruesome cases of animal cruelty in recent years.