Hundreds rally in Fort McMurray for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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For years, the physical and sexual abuse witnessed and endured by Chief Allan Adam was something he never discussed. Adam, who attended the Holy Angels Residential School in Fort Chipewyan, saw it as a gift to his children. But it was the strength of his family that helped Adam come to terms with his experience.

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“Because of the love of your family, the love of your people and the love of everyone, you overcome all of that,” said Adam in a speech to hundreds of people at a rally for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Kiyam Community Park.

“We don’t live with residential school memories, it lives with us no matter where we go, no matter what we do.”

Hundreds of people in orange t-shirts rallied at Kiyam and marched through downtown Fort McMurray on Monday morning to honour victims of the residential school system and 60s scoop.

The Holy Angels Residential School opened in 1874, moved to a new building in 1881, expanded three times and closed in 1974. The building, which was on Mikisew Cree First Nation land, has been demolished. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has confirmed the deaths of 89 children attending the residential school between 1880 and 1953.

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Chief Raymond Powder of the Fort McKay First Nation said the scars of the residential school system are found even within communities like his, which did not have a residential school.

Fort McKay had a day school, but many children were also brought to other schools, including Holy Angels.

Others were part of the Sixties Scoop. Beginning in the 1950s and increasing in the 1960s, the Sixties Scoop refers to federal policies that allowed thousands of Indigenous children to be taken from their families and placed into foster homes. Many children were eventually adopted by non-Indigenous families across Canada and the United States.

Powder said the rally’s large turnout shows more people in the community are becoming aware that Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo was part of both tragedies. He hopes the day becomes a day of healing and coming together for Indigenous people.

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“They were taken away from their families, they were taken away from their connection to their community and the region, they were taken away from their traditions and culture, the livelihood of having a relationship with the land, they were taken away from their language,” said Powder.

“That’s just a sample of what was taken away from them.”

Katalin Loutitt, president of the Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre, said the day represents support for Indigenous people and healing as a community.

“It’s very emotional for a lot of people, which is why it’s so important that everyone’s coming together as a community to give space for people who are grieving and healing,” said Loutitt.

“Healing brings up a lot of emotions in people and having that support is so needed during these times.”

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Mitchel Bowers, chair of Pride YMM and a two-spirit Métis person, urged people to contact their municipal, provincial and federal representatives and ask for progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

They also said people can support Indigenous people by supporting Indigenous organizations and businesses, learning about their culture and the issues facing Indigenous communities, and listening to Indigenous voices.

“I hope that everyone takes today and does some of the hard work that we need to get on the journey of reconciliation,” said Bowers.

“If all you do is wear an orange shirt, then that’s really performative. It’s going to take a lot more work than that to actually see any real, tangible reconciliation.”

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vmcdermott@postmedia.com

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