An emotional healing walk and gathering took place in Wallaceburg to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
It was the first year for the event designed to honour the Indigenous children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools.
Dozens of people at the gathering on Thursday, young and old, heard that every child matters and not just in September. They also heard of the horrific abuse Indigenous children endured at residential schools that caused low self esteem, depression, and shame.
Beverly Williams, a survivor of Shingwauk Indian Residential School in Sault Ste. Marie, told the crowd children were assigned numbers, she said first names were not used at the residential schools. The crowd also heard residential schools tried to strip children of their Indigenous culture. Another survivor, Jenny Blackbird, even went as far as saying the residential schools wanted to make her "an imitation white person."
Williams said residential school was a shock to her and many other children.
"Then comes the inter-generational trauma, trauma that is passed to our children. I had no one to nurture me so I didn't know how to nurture my children," said Williams.
Williams urged those in attendance to keep learning about Indigenous culture, adding that "reconciliation is an ongoing process."
"Listen to our stories, we speak our truth. Learn from them, acknowledge our history and never repeat the tragic history," she added.
Williams also wants the community to be more inclusive when it comes to Indigenous people.
"As we wear our orange shirts and walk together, we remember a part of history that should never have happened," Williams said.
The walk was organized by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Walpole Island First Nation. Co-organizer Leela Thomas told CK News Today there will be more healing walks in the future.
There's another event on Friday to learn more about reconciliation. It will take place at Ska:na Family Learning Centre at 25 Eighth Street in Chatham between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent is partnering with Whyte’s Pickles and local Indigenous artist Nicholas Riley from Bkejwanong First Nation for the installation of a Truth and Reconciliation crosswalk in downtown Wallaceburg. The crosswalk will be painted orange in recognition of the tragic history and legacy of residential schools in Canada.
