Truth & Reconciliation Day events for students and the community

This Friday marks the second-annual National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, and to recognize the day, numerous events are being held in Surrey and the Lower Mainland, as well as online, to acknowledge our country’s history with First Nations and residential schools.

“It’s really important for all Canadians to know about the history of Indigenous people on this land,” said Lyn Daniels, director of instruction with the district’s Aboriginal Learning department. “If we have greater understanding, we can have greater reconciliation.

“We’re acknowledging the truth – we’ve always been here, we’re still here, and we want to be able to get along and work together.”

Leading up to Sept. 30, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is hosting Remembering the Children, a free educational program for Grade 1-12 students, held virtually during Truth and Reconciliation Week, Sept. 26-30. Teachers may register for Remembering the Children here.

Students will learn about Indigenous language, stories, heritage, identity, music and dance, and also have the opportunity to participate in live Q&As. Secondary students will also learn about the long-term impacts of residential schools, the discoveries of unmarked children’s graves and the experiences of Indigenous people who survived residential schools.

Locally, the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee and Skookum Surrey are returning to Holland Park (13428 Old Yale Rd.) on Friday, Sept. 30 to host a community event from 2-4 p.m. The event will feature a keynote address from Elder Eugene Harry of the Cowichan Tribes, along with live drumming performances, Indigenous stories, tea and Bannock. All attendees are encouraged to wear orange shirts.

In South Surrey and White Rock, the Semiahmoo First Nation (SFN) is hosting several events on Friday, starting with the raising of the SFN flag at White Rock City Hall at 10 a.m. Then at 1 p.m., attendees will begin the Walk for Truth and Reconciliation, going from Grand Chief Bernard Charles Memorial Plaza (15400 Marine Dr.) to the Spirit Stage in Semiahmoo Park (15782 Marine Dr.) for programming from 2:30-4 p.m. Free parking will be available at Semiahmoo Park from noon to 4 p.m. in the SFN lot at East Beach, below Washington Avenue Grill.

At 7 p.m., SFN artist Roxanne Charles will unveil her hockey jersey design for the Semiahmoo Ravens at South Surrey Arena (2199 148 St.) ahead of the Surrey Eagles vs. Chilliwack Chiefs hockey game. Game jerseys are up for auction and available for advance bidding, with proceeds benefiting the Indian Residential School Survivor Society. Winners, if in attendance, will have the opportunity to be presented with their jerseys on the ice after the game.

The White Rock Museum & Archives is currently running an exhibit titled Che’ Semiahmah-Sen, Che’ Shesh Whe Weleq-sen Si’am, meaning “I am Semiahmoo, I am Survivor of the Flood.” Curated by the SFN, the exhibit details how the Semiahmoo People flourished following the Great Flood at the end of the last Ice Age. The exhibit runs until Oct. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday.

Additionally, during the week of Sept. 26, orange Every Child Matters T-shirts featuring SFN artwork will be available for sale at White Rock City Hall, the White Rock Community Centre, Centennial Arena and Kent Street Activity Centre, as well as at Semiahmoo Park on Sept. 30.

North of the Fraser River, the Katzie First Nation is hosting We Stand With You Through Truth and Reconciliation, an event organized with the Fraser River Indigenous Society and PLEA Community Services to support and bring awareness to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Held at Memorial Peace Park (19930 224 St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event will feature shirt painting, drummers, Bannock, community art pieces and activity tents.