'Reconciliation, it's here to stay': Lethbridge kicks off Truth and Reconciliation week
This Friday marks the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
However, organizations and groups across Lethbridge, including the City of Lethbridge, were getting things started Monday.
Lethbridge's second annual Truth and Reconciliation week began with drumming, prayers and the raising of the Every Child Matters flag at the Lethbridge public school division building.
"What we're trying to do, our ultimate goal with this, is to build trust and relationships between the two communities where our indigenous people are feeling comfortable within our schools," said Joel Tailfeathers, the school divisions’ coordinator of Indigenous learning.
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is this Friday, named in honour of the victims and survivors of residential schools as well as their families and communities.
"It's about time that we're doing this and moving forward," said Tailfeathers.
"I really look forward to an important job that not only I have, but our Indigenous team has, our school division has and everything that we can do to build relationships and trust amongst our community."
The city held its own Truth and Reconciliation event Monday morning to mark the start of the week.
"Reconciliation, it's here to stay," said Blackfoot elder Mike Bruised Head.
"It's not going to go away and we're going to keep reminding people, ‘hey, be part of it.’"
Bruised Head performed a prayer prior to the flag raising where they hoisted up the Blackfoot, Truth and Reconciliation and Metis flags in front of city hall.
He spoke to the week’s importance and how it should be a year long effort.
"It has to be more than one day, one week, one month," he said.
"It has to be a forever thing."
The city's Indigenous relations advisor, Charlene Bruised Head-Mountain Horse, says this is not just a time to look forward towards what we can do for reconciliation, but to look back at what's been done to bring us to this point.
"It's the importance of looking at the past, but being truthful and honouring what the past is," said Bruised Head-Mountain Horse.
"But how can we have a part and role in our day to day lives in the city of Lethbridge, our families, our friends to acknowledge but move forward in a positive way."
The city sent out a list of events going on around town this week for truth and reconciliation.
They include discussions with elders on the importance of orange shirt day, Blackfoot yoga and online Blackfoot language learning sessions.
In addition, the Lethbridge Public Library, the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College are all holding events of their own to honour the week.
For more information, you can visit the City of Lethbridge website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.