Hundreds of people marched in Cape Breton’s Membertou First Nation during the sixth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday. “Sixty-seven years, I just held it all in,” said Shirley Christmas, a survivor of the Shubenacadie residential school. “I didn’t even speak to my children about it.” But on this year, Christmas spoke about her experiences. With survivors aging, her hope was that her words might reach some of the youngest people in the crowd. “There is getting less of us to speak about the place,” Christmas said. “I might not be here next year, I don’t know.” For the youth in attendance who go to school, it wasn’t lost on them that they never had to worry about being sent away. “Like our grandparents, our great-grandparents, they didn’t get that opportunity you know?” said Miracle Johnson, a member of Membertou’s Youth Chief and Council. “It’s our job to tell their stories and tell the truth and give them the space to have their voice be heard.” Jeff Ward, one of the event organizers and the son of a residential school survivor, pointed out that 11 years after the publication of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, only 15 of its 94 recommendations have been completed. “Yes, we have a national day, but there is a lot more to that call to action,” Ward said, while noting that he was thrilled with the crowd that turned out. “There are some that have been stalled – I can’t believe they have been stalled – and some that are not even completed. Like I said to the students, if you did 15 out of 94 it’s not a passing grade.” Ward added, in the five years since the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, progress has been made and the support from non-Indigenous people has only grown. “We have allies, we have a lot of allies,” Ward said. “As you can see, there are thousands and thousands of people – everyday people – who come to the events.” “Each year, I think there is more added and I’m happy about that,” Christmas said. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
