Hundreds of people wearing orange walked through the streets of Prince Albert on Saturday to recognize and honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Honouring and Remembering

‘We’ll never forget’: P.A. recognizes and honours third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sep 30, 2023 | 3:05 PM

Hundreds of people wearing orange gathered at the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls monument along the riverbank in Prince Albert on Saturday to recognize the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The federal holiday recognizes the legacy of Canada’s residential school system and its harms to Indigenous Peoples.

George Mirasty, one of the organizers of P.A.’s event is a survivor of residential schools and shared what this day means to him.

“It took me a while to start my healing journey. Once I started sharing what happened in those schools, then it became easier with my journey of healing,” he said. “It touches my heart that people can come here and learn about residential schools. When we first started, there was hardly anyone walking and [holding] events because people were in denial about residential schools at that time. Now, it’s across Canada.”

(Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

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Many local and provincial dignitaries were on hand to speak at the ceremony and participate in the walk. Some of those in attendance were Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Russ Mirasty, MLA for Prince Albert Northcote Alana Ross, Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne, PAGC Vice Chief Joseph Tsannie, RCMP Superintendent Chief Ted Monroe, Interim Prince Albert Police Chief Patrick Nogier, among many more.

The ceremony got underway with a powerful and emotional prayer led by Elder Leonard Ermine, which was followed by some words from the many dignitaries in attendance.

“I am honoured to join you here today to remember – to think about residential schools and the people that were impacted, and those who didn’t make it home,” said Lieutenant Governor Mirasty. “For some who may not know, I am a survivor myself. I did four years [at Prince Albert Indian Residential School] in the mid 60’s and other relatives attended different schools around the province. The powerful words that [Elder Ermine] opened this occasion with really brings back a lot of feelings and memories for me, and I’m sure for [some of] you as well.”

Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Russ Mirasty shared some words at the ceremony Saturday. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

Throughout the ceremony, a local artist handed out small wooden boxes to residential school survivors and inside were items to help those on their healing journey. To wrap things up, flutist Jason Chamakese played a traditional song to send the walkers on their way to the Prince Albert Grand Council building where lunch and entertainment was waiting.

The statutory holiday was created in response to one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action, after ground penetrating radar found unmarked graves near the site of a former residential school outside of Kamloops, B.C. It’s also an evolution of Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots initiative started in 2013, inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story of having the orange shirt her grandmother gave her taken away when she arrived at residential school.

Only 13 calls to action have been completed so far – three of them in the last year.

(Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

-with files from The Canadian Press.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com