Lacombe City Hall. (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

To Honour And Remember

Lacombe recognizes National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Sep 28, 2021 | 2:37 PM

The City of Lacombe is recognizing September 30 as National Day of Truth and Reconciliation to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.

City officials acknowledge that public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is vital for reconciliation.

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on Sept. 30.

Municipal Facilities

To recognize the solemn importance of this day, flags will be flown at half-mast and City facilities will be closed or operate at a lesser capacity:

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• City Hall will be closed
• Public works will be closed
• The Lacombe Memorial Centre will be closed
• The Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex will be open from 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• The Kinsmen Aquatic Centre will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. The day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now seen as a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

On Sept. 30, the City of Lacombe encourages all Canadians to wear orange to raise awareness of the tragic legacy of residential schools and to honour the thousands of survivors.

Mental Health Supports Available

Former Residential School students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.

Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Calls to Action

City officials note there were 140 federally run Indian Residential Schools that operated in Canada between 1831 and 1998. The last school closed only 23 years ago. Survivors advocated for recognition and reparations and demanded accountability for the lasting legacy of harm caused.

These efforts culminated in:

• The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement
• Apologies by the Government of Canada
• The establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• The creation of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission ran from 2008 to 2015. It provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools policy with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has become the permanent archive for the statements, documents and other materials the Commission gathered. Its library and collections are said to be the foundation for ongoing learning and research.

The Commission released its final report detailing 94 calls to action.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation directly responds to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.

To learn more

This National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the City of Lacombe and the Government of Canada encourage residents to explore the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and stories of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Whether you want to read, listen, watch, or try, start your learning journey today by visiting:

https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1621447127773/1621447157184.