A view of the Indian Residential School Children's memorial that was on display last year at the Don Ross Centre hill in North Battleford. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Sept. 30 activities

Many events planned for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sep 27, 2022 | 1:25 PM

The City of North Battleford outlined a variety of events taking place in the Battlefords area on Sept. 30 to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Monday’s council meeting.

Also known as Orange Shirt Day, the Sept. 30 statutory holiday recognizes the painful history of the Canadian Indian residential school system. The day honours residential school survivors and the children who never returned home.

Orange Shirt Day was inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad who had her new orange shirt, a gift from her grandmother, taken away from her on her first day of residential school.

Here is a list of the activities taking place this Friday in the Battlefords:

Starting at 8 a.m. there will be a pipe ceremony at The Ridge, located near the site of the former Battleford Industrial School, south of Battleford.

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At 9 a.m. there will be a Star Children flag-raising ceremony at the Town of Battleford.

At 10 a.m. the Star Children flag-raising event will take place at the City of North Battleford.

From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the Battlefords Indian Métis Friendship Centre is planning an event called Every Child Matters that will include drummers, powwow dancers, hoop dancers, and a barbecue lunch.

At 11 a.m. the annual Battleford Industrial School Cemetery Walk, sponsored by Sunchild Law, will take place at The Ridge. Then there will also be an inauguration ceremony at 2 p.m. for a new teepee installation in the nearby Catholic priests’ cemetery.

Then, at 2:30 p.m. the City of North Battleford will hold a ceremony for the unveiling of Peyak Trail in North Battleford.

The day will conclude with an event at King Hill featuring a Knowledge Board and Reception, supported by Lucky Man Cree Nation.

The Sept. 30 initiatives were organized by the various partners on the project: the City of North Battleford, Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC), Acahkos Awasisak – Star Children Project, and the Town of Battleford.

North Battleford Mayor David Gillan said the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a time for reflection.

“It’s very important that we come together and really understand that Truth and Reconciliation Day is not just a holiday,” he said. “It’s a day to reflect and to really understand, and to participate.

Gillan said there are many activities that will be happening in the community to mark the occasion.

“Hopefully, we can get a lot of people out to share the day together as neighbours, and reflect on the purpose of the day,” he said.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW