Four days of sacred fire come to an end
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/06/2021 (1644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
After four days and four nights, a sacred fire lit in memory of the 215 children whose remains were discovered at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School property has ended.
The fire at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds was tended to throughout the four days, with approximately 20 to 30 people spending time maintaining the fire in shifts.
“All nations came together to support each other,” Ask Auntie co-ordinator Florence Halcrow said at midday Saturday while joining a few others by tending to the fire prior to that evening’s closing ceremony.
Although much of the closing ceremony was understandably centred on the tragedies associated with the residential school system, the speakers’ overall tone was one of optimism looking forward and appreciation for the children able to attend the ceremony.
Speaker Doug Gerrard, who helped lead part of the ceremony, said both of his parents attended a residential school from the ages of six to 16 — “The lost generation.”
A spiritual care provider at Brandon Correctional Centre, Gerrard attributed the residential school system with the disproportionate rate at which Indigenous people are incarcerated.
The residential school system itself was a form of incarceration, Dakota knowledge keeper Frank Tacan said during his sometimes emotional leading of the ceremony.
“If you need to cry, cry — it’s all part of healing.”
Underlying the speeches was a call to action, with Gerrard noting that while the sacred fire’s four days were “beautiful,” he would have liked to have seen more area leadership show up to support the cause throughout the week.
“Come and sit with us,” he said in a message directed toward what he referred to as “mainstream society.”
Firekeeper Timothy Bone said the four days gave him strength, and that he’d like to see greater action taken from government moving forward.
“All the government needs to do is stand up for our people.”
More than 50 people gathered for Saturday’s closing ceremony.
Current COVID-19 health orders from the province dictate “all indoor or outdoor gatherings on public property or private property are prohibited.”
The orders also make an exception for “funeral, wedding, baptism or similar religious ceremony may take place at a place of worship provided that no more than 10 persons, other than the officiant and a photographer or videographer, attend the ceremony.”
The majority of those attending Saturday’s ceremony wore masks. Organizers reminded those in attendance to physically distance at least two metres from one another, and pointed out hand sanitizer was available.
» tclarke@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB