Georgina Jolibois was an NDP MP between 2015 and 2019. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

federal holiday

Former MP ‘happy yet emotional’ for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sep 29, 2021 | 3:29 PM

La Loche Mayor Georgina Jolibois is proud of the work she did during her time as an MP to make Sept. 30 a federal holiday.

“Thinking about the next few days, I feel happy yet emotional in the sense that it will be the first day for many years to come where Canadians across Canada will have the opportunity to learn about the impact of residential schools,” she said about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Jolibois is a former NDP MP who served in the House of Commons between 2015 and 2019. During that time, she sponsored a private members bill that initially sought to create a new holiday on June 21 to celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day. When the bill finally reached a third and final reading, the date was altered to Sept. 30 to fall in line with Orange Shirt Day.

Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Phyllis Webstad who, on her first day of residential school, had a new orange shirt from her grandmother taken away from her. She was only six years old at the time and the day is observed in remembrance of the experience students faced at residential schools.

“I will be reading quite a bit and I will be connecting with as many organizations as I can, and still talking to community members and agencies the importance of why the holiday is occurring,” Jolibois said about her plans Thursday.

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Jolibois recommends Canadians spent time tomorrow reading and studying about the impacts of residential schools. She explained the impacts of residential schools were not positive and it’s a time in Canadian history citizens should be educated about.

Jolibois is also proud of the number of businesses, organizations and school divisions that have announced staff will be given time away from work to observe the day. She said now is the time for provincial governments to jump on board and declare it a provincial holiday.

“That would be very helpful for provincial governments to acknowledge the horrific impact of residential schools,” Jolibois said. “There is always hope and there is much work to be done. Collectively, Canadians across Canada will do their part in promoting why this is important.”

The creation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was done through legislative amendments made by parliament, which received royal ascent on June 3. The day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.

Public commemoration of the tragic, painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @saskjourno