Effects of residential schools, truth and reconciliation discussed at Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day in Regina
Thousands of students, local leaders and members of the public are packed into Mosaic Stadium for Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day, an event discussing residential schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action.
Organizers estimate there were more than 12,000 people listening to the messages at the stadium on Thursday morning, with the majority students from across southern Saskatchewan.
(Allison Bamford/CTV News)
The organizers added they believe this is the largest gathering in Canada to ever come together for truth and reconciliation.
Governor General of Canada Mary Simon addressed the crowd on Thursday morning, beginning by expressing her condolences to James Smith Cree Nation.
She told the students they all have a role to play in reconciliation.
“Education is the key to reconciliation. We must learn about each other to reach out to different cultures: Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike,” Simon said.
“It is our shared responsibility to record and teach the true history of Canada. Keep building, keep expanding the circle.”
Governor General Mary Simon addresses Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day in Regina. (Gareth Dillistone/CTV News)
Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme told the students it’s important to continue to recognize reconciliation every day – not just on the specially marked holidays.
“Indigenous people, we don’t want pity, we don’t want anybody to feel sorry for our history. We all inherited this, but when you inherit something you have a responsibility to do something about it,” Delorme said.
“Lets not just identify truth and reconciliation on September 30th or June 21st, lets do it one day at a time.”
Miyo-wîcîwitowin means reconciliation in Cree – roughly translated to "walking in a good way together."
Before the event wrapped, Regina mayor Sandra Masters unveiled a lasting tribute: the seat of truth.
The single orange seat, located in section 531 just below one of screens at Mosaic Stadium, will serve as a “permanent visual reminder of the truth that must be told so the actions of reconciliation can be advanced,” Masters said.
The seat will remain empty and unsold in honour of the children who never made it back from residential schools.
“You can’t unsee it,” Masters said.
“Every time that screen is looked at, and it’s looked at often, you’ll see the orange chair and it’s meant to remind us that we can’t forget.”
The seat of truth at Mosaic Stadium is pictured. (Allison Bamford/CTV News)
Royal Canadian Air Force jets performed a flyby over Mosaic Stadium during the event. The planes were in a missing man formation, to honour the children who never made it home from residential schools.
Organizers called the event a success. They said they will take time to reflect on the day before considering what any future events could look like.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in U.S. if legal options fail, Reuters sources say
TikTok owner ByteDance would prefer to shut down its loss-making app rather than sell it if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the U.S., four sources said.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.