Editor91裸聊视频檚 note: The story below may trigger difficult or traumatic thoughts and memories. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society91裸聊视频檚 24-hour crisis line is available at 1-866-925-4419.

A persistent, cleansing September rain didn91裸聊视频檛 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 Sts91裸聊视频檃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 Sts91裸聊视频檃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 91裸聊视频淓very Child Matters91裸聊视频� while others dressed in traditional Sts91裸聊视频檃iles regalia.

At the walk91裸聊视频檚 final destination at Sandpiper Golf Course, Sts91裸聊视频檃iles Chief Ralph Leon was among several speakers.

91裸聊视频漈oday is a hard day for our people, but as well, slh茅m:exw, it91裸聊视频檚 raining,91裸聊视频� Leon continued. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 washed away some of those things that need to be washed away from our people.91裸聊视频�

Leon was sent to St. Mary91裸聊视频檚 Residential School in Mission.

91裸聊视频淭he things that were witnessed, and if those walls could speak for us at St. Mary91裸聊视频檚, it would be everything that we need to know,91裸聊视频� he said.

Leon said he was happy to see members of the Sq91裸聊视频檈welets First Nation joined the Thursday morning walk.

91裸聊视频淲e need to do this, and it91裸聊视频檚 going to get bigger every year,91裸聊视频� Leon said. 91裸聊视频淚 have that good feeling, we91裸聊视频檙e going to walk together like we91裸聊视频檙e supposed to. We are all brothers and sisters, regardless of how you look at it. We come from only one mother 91裸聊视频� Mother Earth.91裸聊视频�

Leon pointed out that there is no word for different colours of skin in the Halq91裸聊视频檈me91裸聊视频檡lem language.

91裸聊视频淲ith those other words in those other languages comes judgement, racism,91裸聊视频� he continued. 91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 have that in our language. That91裸聊视频檚 why we acknowledge brothers and sisters, because that91裸聊视频檚 what we are and forever will be.91裸聊视频�

adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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