Recognition in Fort Frances of those who went to residential schools.
The Survivors Flag was raised at the Fort Frances Civic Centre as a lead-up to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Mayor Andrew Hallikas hopes it inspires everyone to do better.
“There have been a lot of words today, but they’re powerful words. They’re important words,” says Hallikas.
“We heard the words from our elder. We heard the words of a survivor. We saw the children raise the reconciliation flag. We heard the song of the drummers. All of this should instill within us a desire to do better, to move forward together. But before you can move forward, you must know the truth. It’s truth and reconciliation, not just reconciliation.”
In a reading lengthy resolution, Hallikas noted that of the 150,000 Indigenous children who went to residential schools, 4,000 did not come home.
Survivors, family members and others stood alongside a group of schoolchildren for the ceremony.
One survivor, Mookii Morrison, says this time of year was a sad time for families who saw their children taken away and sent to schools.
“We’re coming up to September 30th,” says Morrison. “We’re coming up to a time when we’re going to be taken away and we have no choice. We have no say. So honour those. Honour those, those people who were taken away.”
Of the 139 schools that operated in Canada, nine were located in northwestern Ontario.
Here is the proclamation that was read during the ceremony.
Whereas the federal government has passed legislation to make September 30 a federal statutory holiday called the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, and this important day gives an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about the history of the residential schools in Canada;
And whereas, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is when we recognize the ongoing trauma caused by residential and day schools and remember the survivors, their families, and those who never returned home;
And whereas, we commit to the process of truth, justice and reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis in Fort Frances, in Ontario and across Canada;
And whereas, from the 1870s through 1996, governments abducted more than 150,000 Indigenous children between four to 16 years old from their communities, estimates show more than 4,000 Indigenous children did not return home from the 139 identified residential schools in Canada;
And whereas, residential school harm has negatively impacted all Indigenous peoples, communities and Canadians and caused trauma felt through multiple generations;
And whereas, the Survivors’ flag will be raised at the Fort Frances Civic Center marking the beginning of a week of special events based on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation;
And whereas, the Survivors’ flag being raised was created by the National Center of Truth and Reconciliation in partnership with survivors and national Indigenous organizations to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools;
And whereas, truth-telling, decolonization, reconciliation and indigenization are opportunities for all Canadians to participate in healing and developing a shared understanding of the historical impacts that shape the experiences of the Indigenous peoples of Canada;
And whereas, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation has been observed and reflected upon in our region as a call to remember and a call to action;
And whereas, the town of Fort Frances is striving and committed to be a town of reconciliation, creating long-term systemic change and new relations based on mutual understanding and respect;
Therefore, it is resolved that I, Andrew Hallikas, Mayor of the town of Fort Frances, hereby proclaim the week of September 23rd to September 30th to be National Truth and Reconciliation Week in the town of Fort Frances. The town of Fort Frances will publicly raise the survivors’ flag in honour of the residential school survivors and all the lives and communities affected by the 139 federally run residential schools in Canada. I encourage all citizens to reflect and work together on equality, acceptance and inclusion for all people throughout the year.
