Editor香蕉视频直播檚 note: The story below may trigger difficult or traumatic thoughts and memories. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society香蕉视频直播檚 24-hour crisis line is available at 1-866-925-4419.

A persistent, cleansing September rain didn香蕉视频直播檛 stop 300-plus people from local First Nations and nearby municipalities from walking to honour the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Hosted by the Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles First Nation, the walk was meant to bring awareness of and healing to those who were traumatized or have survived the residential school system and in memory of those who did not.

For nearly four kilometres down Morris Valley Road on Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles land, hundreds marched, led by hand drums and songs of healing. Nearly all wore orange in honour of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Some brought signs proclaiming 香蕉视频直播淓very Child Matters香蕉视频直播� while others dressed in traditional Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles regalia.

At the walk香蕉视频直播檚 final destination at Sandpiper Golf Course, Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles Chief Ralph Leon was among several speakers.

香蕉视频直播漈oday is a hard day for our people, but as well, slh茅m:exw, it香蕉视频直播檚 raining,香蕉视频直播� Leon continued. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 washed away some of those things that need to be washed away from our people.香蕉视频直播�

Leon was sent to St. Mary香蕉视频直播檚 Residential School in Mission.

香蕉视频直播淭he things that were witnessed, and if those walls could speak for us at St. Mary香蕉视频直播檚, it would be everything that we need to know,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Leon said he was happy to see members of the Sq香蕉视频直播檈welets First Nation joined the Thursday morning walk.

香蕉视频直播淲e need to do this, and it香蕉视频直播檚 going to get bigger every year,香蕉视频直播� Leon said. 香蕉视频直播淚 have that good feeling, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to walk together like we香蕉视频直播檙e supposed to. We are all brothers and sisters, regardless of how you look at it. We come from only one mother 香蕉视频直播� Mother Earth.香蕉视频直播�

Leon pointed out that there is no word for different colours of skin in the Halq香蕉视频直播檈me香蕉视频直播檡lem language.

香蕉视频直播淲ith those other words in those other languages comes judgement, racism,香蕉视频直播� he continued. 香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 have that in our language. That香蕉视频直播檚 why we acknowledge brothers and sisters, because that香蕉视频直播檚 what we are and forever will be.香蕉视频直播�

adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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