Montrealers will come together on Monday for the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation march.
The event will honour the lives of children who never returned home from residential schools.
This year’s “Every Child Matters” march is being organized in collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation and the Native Women’s Shelter/Resilience Montreal.
“Participants are encouraged to wear orange t-shirts as a symbol of solidarity,” said the organizers in a press release. “And Indigenous community members are invited to bring their drums.”
Montreal primary and secondary schools have also been invited, for staff and students to take part in the event.
“Reconciliation is not just wearing an orange t-shirt,” said Na’kuset, Executive Director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and David Chapman, Resilience Montreal Executive Director, in a letter to the schools.
“It is learning from Indigenous elders and hearing the words of survivors and walking in our footsteps.”
“Actions speak louder than words,” they added. “This is an opportunity for children to learn the true history of Canada that may not be in your textbooks. […] The survivors are living examples of this holiday called The National Truth and Reconciliation Day and have a story to tell you. Show up.”
Full list of speakers/performers:
- Kevin Deer
- Jeremy Dutcher
- Sacred Wolf Drummers
- Alex McComber
- Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer
- Ellen Gabriel
- Barbara Diabo
- Maya Cousineau-Mollen
- Beatrice Deer
March rout details can be found here.