Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
Oliver youth came together on Thursday to honour residential school victims in a special ceremony leading up to National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
The day started with an orange shirt march through town, followed by a tribute in front of the memorial wall at the Osoyoos Indian Band office.
Master of Ceremonies Helen Gallagher said it was an important time for children to learn about Canada’s “dark” history that played out in Indian residential schools many years ago.
Elder Joe McGinnis said the opening prayer in his traditional language. In English, he said they were there to remember the children who were found in the graves in Kamloops.
“We’ll never forget them, and as we move forward in reconciliation, they will be our strength.”
McGinnis thanked the Creator for taking care of local children and asked him to help the parents raise their kids the right way.
Tyler Sky, an Indigenous leader at Southern Okanagan Secondary School, spoke about truth and reconciliation in the classroom. The student said their social justice class worked hard on this topic, hosting an assembly with an elder speaker.
Sky said students are hoping to raise more awareness and involvement, not just in school.
“That is my hope as well, to speak the truth and honour all of the residential school survivors, those lost and those still affected.”
Gallagher explained that school children made miniature orange shirts for residential school attendees who passed away. These shirts were pasted on the memorial wall beside their names.
To honour the survivors, the students wrote little notes on a card and presented them to the elders.
Survivor and Osoyoos Indian Band councillor Veronica McGinnis said the event was an “awesome” tribute.
“I was just sitting here and I got teary-eyed,” she said, referring to the card she was given.
The survivor of St. Eugene residential school in Cranbrook said she was looking at her grandchildren drumming and singing which reminded her of the things she never had the opportunity to do in school.
“I don’t think it really hit me until I get to watch my grandkids, I get to buy them a drum, I get to make them regalia and help them celebrate our people and our culture.”
McGinnis said they can’t bring back or change what happened, and they certainly won’t forget.
“We all can look forward to a good life, looking around and seeing the integration that’s happening and all of the other people that are learning about who we are and where we came from.”
The survivor encouraged every student to learn what they can about what has happened in their country.
Mya, a Grade 7 student from Oliver Elementary, said she felt very sorry for the people who attended these residential schools and for the trauma and sadness they had to endure.
“I am very happy that some of you guys are still with us, and for the ones that aren’t, they’ll still be in our hearts.”
(Lyonel Doherty photos)
