Survivors’ flag raised by Survivors

This week has been declared National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Week in Fort Frances.

It kicked off with the raising of the Survivor’s flag at the Civic Centre.

It is the first time the flag has flown outside the town office.

Samantha Korzinski, a member of the local NDTR committee organizing events around the day, says its presence is significant.

“It’s really important to see non-Indigenous and Indigenous working together. That hasn’t happened very much in our town. And to see the size of our committee grow over the last four years. When we first started, there were three agencies, and now we’re up to 16. To have non-Indigenous and Indigenous working together, it’s a big deal,” says Korzinski.

Residential school Survivors Albert Cochrane and Henry Willie raised the flag as elder Tommy Councillor offered a blessing.

The flag, which also flies in Ottawa, was created to honour survivors and communities impacted by Canada’s residential school system.

Over 150,000 Indigenous children aged 4 to 16 were taken from their homes and placed in schools run mainly by churches.

As many as 4,000 died.

Bill Morrison, another member of the local NDTR committee, says there are signs of reconciliation as more Canadians learn and become aware of this dark period of Canadian history.

“We’re seeing all these agencies working together in the town of Fort Frances, raising the Survivors’ flag and proclaiming as National Truth and Reconciliation Week. This is where it starts, by working together in honour of the residential school survivors and the children who never made it home,” says Morrison.

Mayor Andrew Hallikas read a proclamation that indicated the town is striving and committed to being a town of reconciliation.

“We are committed to addressing truth and reconciliation, not just during Truth and Reconciliation Week or on Truth and Reconciliation Day, but all year round,” says Hallikas.

He says for it to move forward, the municipality will set up an Indigenous Advisory Committee with community Representation to advise Council on Indigenous matters.

The town also plans to write a truth and reconciliation policy, tasking the Indigenous Advisory Committee to review the policy and provide input.

A second flag-raising took place at the Nanicost Building, the site of a former residential school.