Planning commemoration for residential school survivors

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This article was published 30/09/2021 (1492 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Plans are underway to honour residential school survivors in Rolling River First Nation with a special ceremony planned for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.

Rolling River First Nation band manager Elvin Huntinghawk said the nation has planned a series of events Thursday to honour Truth and Reconciliation while speaking to the experiences of residential school survivors.

“This is new. The holiday was just recognized. So we wanted to do our part to recognize the day, and invite our neighbours to be a part of it as well, to come and learn and take part in some of the ceremonies we have,” Huntinghawk said. “The whole concept is working together to create a better future.”

The ceremony honouring Truth and Reconciliation begins at 9 a.m. and is planned to end around 1:30 p.m at the Southquill Community Hall. COVID-19 public health measures will be in place.

For those attending any Truth and Reconciliation events this year, Huntinghawk said, be yourself, be happy and be respectful. The focus of the day is promoting positivity and building emphatic relationships.

He hopes the events on the Day for Truth and Reconciliation will bring neighbours together and foster a better future, while sharing how communities can heal from the damaging history of residential schools.

Huntinghawk said he is excited to show how Indigenous traditions and culture can work in tandem with western medicine leading to positive outcomes.

“When you take something away from someone then you got to replace it with something else. If you don’t then they’ll do it themselves and it might not be a good way,” Huntinghawk said.

He believes the event will provide guidance to those in attendance and showcase there are communities members and other resources in place ready to help those on their path to healing.

It is essential to move forward from the pain of residential schools, but reconciliation involves ensuring Indigenous communities can create their own paths of recovery.

A major component of the commemoration in Rolling River will be acknowledging the survivors of residential schools, Huntinghawk said. Part of this will have a pancake breakfast in their honour.

“A lot of people who are senior age now have gone to residential schools,” Huntinghawk said. “This is a way of recognizing them and letting them know there is support available for them in the community.”

Huntinghawk added a moment of silence will also be held to honour the memory of children who died at residential schools across Canada, along with an Honour Song for health-care workers as a tribute to their dedicated efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of speakers will be in attendance for the ceremony. Rolling River First Nation Chief Wilfred McKay Jr. will open the ceremony along with elders offering prayers and a local drum group. Testimonials from two community elders who survived residential schools are also planned.

Multiple organizations and sponsors have made the event possible. He praised Erickson Compass Credit Union, Erickson Co-op and Southquill Services for providing transportation for elders. Services to Seniors will be providing food for the feast during the ceremony.

Huntinghawk added steps have been taken to ensure the safety and emotional well-being of those in attendance. Stories shared on the day have the potential to reopen traumatic memories of residential schools, so resources will be on hand in case counselling is needed on-site. A psychologist has been invited to the nation to take part in the ceremony.

“You can get into some really heavy stuff. We want to share a little bit about it,” Huntinghawk said.

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