Greater Victoria students reflect on Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Friday is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is marked by Orange Shirt Day.
On Thursday morning in Langford, B.C., ceremonial First Nation dancers greeted students from Ruth King Elementary and Spencer Middle School. Those students were dressed in a sea of orange.
"We wear orange shirts because of a young girl that was six, who wore an orange shirt to school and it was taken away from her," said Vicki Ives, principle of Ruth King Elementary.
That little girl was residential school survivor Phylis Jack Webstad. Her experience on the first day of residential school has now become the symbol of truth and reconciliation in Canada.
This was Grade Five student Noah Bertland reading a poem he wrote in front of the students:
"Residential school, really mean, eating very little," he read.
"Our schools today, super kind, cool."
Bertland's poem was contrasting today's education system with that of Canada's residential school system.
He says in class he has learned extensively about residential schools and the atrocities that resulted from them. It’s a lesson that isn’t lost on him or his fellow students.
"So that they know not to start them again," said Bertland.
Students from Spencer Middle School talked about what National Truth and Reconciliation Day means to them.
"It means thinking back on what happened," said Brooklynn Barker-Hobbs, a Grade Eight student at Spencer Middle School.
"It really wasn’t fair what happened to all the kids that lost their lives to the residential schools," she added.
Students are pictured at Pioneer Park in Brentwood Bay, B.C., to mark National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Sept. 29, 2022 (CTV News)
In Brentwood Bay it was a tidal wave of orange. Hundreds of Central Saanich students converged on Pioneer Park to hear a moving speech from Talia Child, a Grade 12 student at Stelly’s Secondary School in the Indigenous leadership class.
This was Child at the podium as she spoke to the large crowd:
"I’m sharing my story today because truth-telling is part of the work today, truth-telling is essential to reconciliation," she said.
Talia Child, a Grade 12 student at Stelly’s Secondary School in Central Saanich, B.C., speaks to hundreds of students in Pioneer Park. (CTV News)
She also spoke about her family's experience at residential schools.
"Their names are Mildred Hunt and Ivy Louie," said the Grade 12 student.
She went on to talk about the recently-discovered unmarked graves of innocent Indigenous children, and the highway of tears.
"Today I wear my original regalia because in 1921, my relatives were arrested for potlatching," said Child.
It was a powerful message full of personal family stories – stories that will hopefully set the tone with the next generation.
"Because we still have a long way to go," said Child.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Pastrnak scores winner, Bruins down Leafs 2-1 in overtime in Game 7
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
The American paradox of protest: Celebrated and condemned, welcomed and muzzled
Americans cherish the right to assemble, to speak out, to petition for the redress of grievances. It's enshrined in the first of the constitutional amendments. They laud social actions of the past and recognize the advances toward equality that previous generations made, often at risk of life and limb. But those same activities can produce anger and outright opposition when life's routines are interrupted, and wariness that those speaking out are outsiders looking to sow chaos and influence impressionable minds.
King Charles III’s openness about cancer has helped him connect with people in year after coronation
King Charles III's decision to be open about his cancer diagnosis has helped the new monarch connect with the people of Britain and strengthened the monarchy in the year since his dazzling coronation at Westminster Abbey.