Hundreds of motorcycle riders rally for residential school survivors on Vancouver Island
Hundreds of motorcycles revved up on Vancouver Island over the weekend to raise awareness for the 215 children who were buried at a former Kamloops residential school site, and to show support for survivors.
On Sunday, residential school survivors, alongside their families and supporters, gathered in Duncan for the rally.
"Today, we ride for them and we ride for all the Indigenous Peoples, and we ride for justice," said organizer Kelli Symonds, before the riders headed off on a 160 kilometre ride across the South Island.
Before the ride began, Victoria Orange Shirt Day organizer and residential school survivor Eddie Charlie sold T-shirts in support of the campaign.
"It's not just a story. It's real," said Charlie. "Children were starved, physically abused, and many of them sexually assaulted."
"So the 215 children is not only the biggest wake up call for Canada, but for our people too, and it gives us the opportunity to talk about our own experience," he said.
Residential school survivor Eddie Charlie is pictured at a motorcycle rally in support of survivors in Duncan: June 20, 2021 (CTV News)
Sunday's motorcycle procession was led by survivors, with family and friends following closely behind.
The sight was an emotional one for Charlie.
"Very moving," he said. "As somebody who was taken away from home as a very tiny child, having an opportunity to see people honour the residential school experience – it's very moving and I can't raise my hands high enough to all the people who came."
Riders cruised from Duncan to Sidney and back again before an afternoon healing ceremony and moment of silence took place.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.