Truth and Reconciliation Candlelight Vigil
On September 30th, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, local youth will lead a vigil at the Seven Gifts in memory of the Indigenous children who attended residential schools.
Take this opportunity to gather with the youth of our community and surrounding areas to reflect and honour residential school survivors, their families, and those who didn’t make it home. It is also a chance to recommit ourselves to reconciliation- ACTIONS to move us all forward on the path of Reconciliation.
As you walk along the river path to the vigil site, reflect on the Calls to Action youth will be silently holding to help us remember on this tenth anniversary of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s publication of 94 Calls to Action, that almost 80 of them have not yet been completed. Youth have selected specific Calls to Action that spoke to them, felt connected to and needed to be highlighted. Feel free to pause and join them in silent reflection along the path.
Youth voices and special guests will share readings and reflections on both truth and reconciliation. Rev. Jonathon Kouri will speak on behalf of the local churches and Karen Luyendyk will speak on behalf of Almonte All My Relations.
Special guest Feather Wilson-Davies will speak on what her traditions mean to her.
Featured special guest Shelly Sayeau will be speaking about reconnecting to her ancestral roots and culture and what that has meant to her.
Shelly and Feather will then share a dance in honour of the day in each of their respective styles: Jingle Dress Dancing and Fancy Shawl Dancing.
Members of the community will be invited to take a candle to place at The Seven Gifts art installation, on site at Riverfront Park. There, you can take time to quietly share space, reflect on the teachings and sharings, and how you can consider moving forward on your own path of reconciliation.
Reflecting on both Canada’s original aim to erase Indigenous identity and culture, and our own commitment to restoring a relationship of friendship and trust, we invited Shelly Sayeau to speak about what it means to her to reconnect with her culture.
Shelly is the great grand daughter of Chief Matthew Bernard, Pikwakanagan, the Algonquin reserve at Golden Lake. Her spirit name is Dancing Willow. Her great grandfather was Matthew Bernard, Chief of Pikwakanagan, the reserve at Golden Lake and her great Algonquin grandmother, Christianne Aird Partridge. Matthew and his son Michael were traditional canoe builders. Shelly will dance in honour of the children who attended residential schools. Feather, a teenage jingle dancer from Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation will join her and also share her thoughts about what her ancestral roots and culture mean to her.
Program
6:40 p.m. – Gathering Time
7:00 p.m. – Land Acknowledgement and Welcome
7:10 p.m. – Mayor Christa Lowry
7:15 p.m. – Readings and Sharings
8:15 p.m. – Candles and Reflections