Local residents were taking steps – literally – towards reconciliation this morning with a healing walk through downtown Wallaceburg.
Rebecca Haskell-Thomas, Chatham-Kent’s Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice, says it’s important to have the community come together to honour the lives of residential school victims and survivors.
“This day is about the harms that have been done to Indigenous peoples, families, and communities, and today is about healing. It’s about coming together to understand what has happened and to do better.”
She says the horrors of the residential school system was kept hidden from the public for so long, there’s a real desire in the community at large to do better to honour the victims and survivors.
“It sometimes can feel overwhelming, what can I do as a person? This is something we can do,” Haskell-Thomas explains. “This is jut another opportunity to say we want to learn and we want to do better.”
Close to 100 people took part in today’s healing walk down James Street, which was followed by a gathering at Civic Square Park.
In honour of tomorrow’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a family-friendly event is being held beside the Ska:na Family Learning Centre in Chatham tomorrow from 10am until 2.
