THUNDER BAY - For Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins, seeing such a strong showing of support from the people of Thunder Bay during the first Truth and Reconciliation Day as a national holiday shows a willingness to work together as a community on the ongoing journey toward healing.
“Today is a great day for us to start that new beginning of healing and working together as one on one front and coming together as one organization and one family,” he said.
“The important message is the support we are seeing here today and the support we need. If we are ever to recover from residential schools, we need the mainstream support and the people that showed up here today really shows that they care and want to make a difference.”
Nearly 200 people participated in a tree planting ceremony at Vickers Park on Thursday to mark Truth and Reconciliation Day, with members of the community also invited to take home their own cedar tree to plant to commemorate Indigenous children who died in the residential school system and support survivors and families.
Truth and Reconciliation Day has been recognized as a national holiday on what is also known as Orange Shirt Day, where gatherings are held to commemorate and recognize the victims and survivors of residential schools.
The ceremony at Vickers Park included speeches from Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro and Chief Peter Collins, as well as prayers and songs from the Thunder Bay Anishinaabe Elders Advisory Council.
“The turnout is spectacular,” Mauro said. “I think it speaks to the feelings in the city about what we can do as a community in terms of honouring the day and doing what we can to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
The tree that was planted will be part of a larger memorial garden at the park and Mauro said it is important to carry the message of Truth and Reconciliation beyond just a single day.
“I think the importance of the day cannot be overstated and it’s part of a larger effort in ensuring reconciliation continues to move forward,” he said. “From my perspective, the way it moves best is through education.”
Mauro added that it is unfortunate that many Canadians are still not aware of lasting impact the residential school system has had on Indigenous people across the country.
“This and events like it are very important and anything that goes toward educating people in terms of that part of our history will make for a quicker journey for reconciliation in our country,” he said.
“I think when they learn about this it causes them to pause and reflect and think we do have some work to do in terms of reconciliation.”
The city is also hosting several events at Marina Park Thursday evening, including activities for kids, information booths, and the screening of the film Indian Horse. The opening ceremony takes place at 5 p.m. with the film screening at 6:30 p.m.
