Hundreds of people gathered outside The Healing of the Seven Generations headquarters on Frederick Street in Kitchener before residents embarked on the annual Remember Me Walk, held every year on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This marks the sixth walk held by the organization, done to reflect on the tragedies that happened at residential schools and to honour the children who never came home. “It’s about people understanding… Truth and Reconciliation, it’s about understanding what happened to our children who were taken and put in the residential schools. It’s about learning and hearing the stories that we have to share with people, even though it might be hard to hear,” Donna Dubie, the founder of The Healing of the Seven Generations, told CTV News. For Indigenous artist Kevin George and many others, the day brings mixed emotions to the forefront. “It was a complicated day. At first, I was wondering, how can I be so happy? I see a lot of people grieving and stuff like that, and I too have complicated feelings around Truth and Reconciliation Day,” George said. George designed the newest GRT bus wrap that was unveiled at the beginning of the walk, showcasing many symbols and principles that are close to his community and his heart. “The Bigfoot represents honesty in those seven grandfather teachings, that means our actions have to be in alignment with our spirits. I lived a long time not that way. So this represents for me the closing of that,” George explained. “When we hear that Thunderbird coming, when we hear those thunders rolling in, it’s a reminder to go and live by our original instructions, to use your medicines, to be grateful, to walk in a good way like that.” While George initially did not want to submit work for the project, a gentle push from his people nudged him in the right direction. “To be honest, I, I didn’t feel like doing that at first. But then a friend of mine nudged me and said, hey, you should really do this… and I thought, okay, you know what? I will do it. I’m hoping that the art can bring some happiness to folks,” he said. Walk participants started from Frederick Street and ended at the Victoria Park clock tower, drumming and singing all along the way before a several speakers shared messages signalling for healing, reflection and action. Being further removed from when 215 potential burial sites were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in 2021, Dubie said the old news is still news today. “We’re in the sixth year since 215 was announced, and now in the last year or two, it seems like that’s old news. Now, it’s not worthy of being up front right now, and the money is less to help find our children,” she said. “We need to rally our people, rally the communities, rally our allies, and support the nations that are continuing to look for our children.” Organizers like Serena Wesley, a program manager at The Healing of the Seven Generations, spoke to how the event is more than just a walk, it’s about taking the right steps forward to remember the past. “I try to walk for the people that can’t be here today, the people that haven’t been found and the people that we don’t know about, we don’t want them forgotten,” she said. “When we have organizations and the indigenous organizations out there willing to make sure that this day isn’t forgotten… we share our stories and we make sure that nobody forgets.” To Dubie, the mission is simple, making tomorrow a brighter day than it was yesterday. “My children are here. My grandchildren are here. They’re not stuck in that cycle of abuse,” she said. “I think what’s the most important right now is understanding that our little ones right now, I believe, are our current seven generation of children, and we got to do the very best to make their life a lot more lovable, a lot more complete, and let’s make them whole again.
