Today marks the 2nd National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, September 30, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

By Drew Stremick

Alberta marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sep 30, 2022 | 2:59 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Across the country, Canadians and Indigenous peoples are gathering to acknowledge the second official Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Events to reflect and pay respects to Indigenous peoples are happening across Canada. Here in Alberta, the provincial government held a ceremony on the grounds of the Alberta legislature.

Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson spoke on how the government is taking steps forward towards what they call ‘reconcili-action’.

“The Truth and Reconciliation Commission gave us a way forward, and Alberta’s government has made progress on more than 20 calls to action that relate to the province,” said Wilson. “I am proud to announce that Alberta’s government is one step closer to fulfilling Call to Action #82 ­– creating a permanent monument in our capital city, Edmonton, to honour the survivors of residential schools and the children who did not make it home.”

The monument was designed by Stewart Steinhauer, a Saddle Lake Cree Nation stone sculptor, and the monument will be the centrepiece of the Reconciliation Garden on the Alberta legislature grounds.

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Wilson continued saying that while the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action are vital, more work must be done beyond the 94 actions.

“On this day, I thank residential school survivors for courageously sharing their stories and their desire for a more equitable future,” Wilson said. “I urge everyone in Alberta to learn the truth about the past and find local ways to reach out and strengthen relationships with Indigenous people. Reconciliation is not just about one day, there are meaningful steps any one of us can take any day of the year.”

An Indigenous Healing Garden at the Interfaith Food Bank in Lethbridge, September 30, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

In Lethbridge, the week has been filled with a number of events taking place across the city to draw attention towards Truth and Reconciliation.

Cindy Rendall is a counselor with Untethered Heart Counseling in Lethbridge. During the week, she has been hosting workshops for non Indigenous people. Rendall says it’s important for non-Indigenous people to reflect and learn about the impacts history has had on Indigenous people in Canada.

“It came about last year. I got asked to do, basically a workshop for non Indigenous people on how do we kind of own our part in reconciliation, which I think often kind of gets missed,” Rendall said. “We as white people need to learn the history of what happened to Indigenous people. In the past, as well as our current situation, as well, and then what our role in that is as white people. So, we also look at white privilege and systemic racism within this workshop as well as looking at some of the impacts of colonization.”

Rendall has been working for non-profit organizations for awhile, and is also an instructor at Red Crow Community College. She says it was hard to hear the stories as she began to understand how Indigenous people continue to face significant obstacles.

“It was so eye opening, you know, that it’s not just residential schools, it’s current policies, it’s intergenerational trauma,” explained Rendall. “Getting to know those students and hearing their stories and the stories of their families, and their experiences. It makes it so much more real as you get to know real people. It’s not just video you’re watching on TV, but this is the real life of people.”

Going forward, Rendall says she hopes people can continue working towards meaningful reconciliation.

“I think it’s important to have experiences with indigenous people. To build relationships, to go to events to learn all of the rich history and the culture,” said Rendall. “There’s so much, and it really does bring us all together. It gives us, each of us, so much. The more we learn and we come together and we say, ‘Okay, we’re kind of all in this together.’ The world’s kind of at a tricky spot. We need each other and we can learn and enjoy each other.”

READ MORE: Truth and Reconciliation Day: In The News for Sept. 30, 2022