THUNDER BAY — With the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation one week away, Confederation College held a ceremony at its main campus in Thunder Bay.
Wendy Landry, who is the new vice-president of Indigenous strategies at Confederation College, said attendance had grown significantly from last year.
"I think the participation from not only employees but from students as well is a clear indication of how truth and reconciliation continues to grow and continues to pick up speed and recognition from all aspects of different institutions and colleges and corporations," she said.
"I think it's an indication of the uptick of people caring and people learning and people finding out more and more and wanting to participate."
The designer of the new orange shirt at the college, Angela Jason, explained the significance of the sweetgrass represented in her image.
"With sweetgrass, when we harvest it, you're not ripping it out of the ground, but you're giving it proper care and harvesting it properly."
"That's how truth and reconciliation should be treated, not done quickly, but given the care and given the thought and just keeping the progress going year after year."
She went on to explain that the three braided pieces represent the past, its connection to the present, and its subsequent effects on the future.
The juvenile eagle feathers represent that the movement is still young,
"We have a long way to go and recognizing that we have a lot to learn, not just from each other, but just recognizing the past, letting that influence our present and recognizing that our present definitely influences our future."
A truth and reconciliation flag raised at Monday's event will remain at half-mast through Oct. 2, a gesture meant to acknowledge the impacts of colonization on Indigenous communities, including lives lost at residential schools.
