PHEASANT RUMP NAKOTA FIRST NATIONS - The Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation (PRNFN) honoured the children who lost their lives and who survived the residential school tragedy.
On Sept. 30 at the PRNFN Recreation Centre, a ceremony took place, with tables dressed in white cloths and everyone wearing the orange t-shirts for Every Child Matters.
Joe CircleBear opened the event with a prayer and Kathleen McArthur was the MC. She was grateful for the opportunity to MC the event.
Presentations were done by CircleBear and Robert McArthur, and then the floor opened up for others who wished to speak on behalf of their experience.
Chief Ira McArthur presented all the survivors with blankets, beginning with the oldest member of PRNFN and working his way to the youngest.
As survivors were called by name, they came forward and were wrapped in a comforting blanket in recognition of their experience in the residential schools.
Children of residential schools were taken away from their families, stripped of their heritage and told to not speak their language. Today, several of them are trying to regain the knowledge of their language and teach their heritage to their children, as this is part of their lives.
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is a day for all to recognize what happened and to begin the healing process, starting with education and community.
The PRNFN honoured the survivors and closed the ceremony with a prayer.
Everyone was invited to join a feast that was prepared for the afternoon.
