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Truth and reconciliation walk makes statement in Nipigon

Over 150 people marched across the Nipigon River Bridge, and to the site of a former day school, in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

NIPIGON — Over 150 people gathered in Nipigon on Friday to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, walking across the Nipigon River Bridge to draw attention to their message.

The scheduled march occupied a lane of traffic on the bridge for around half an hour, after participants earlier in the day walked to the site of the former Lake Helen Indian Day School.

Chief Marcus Hardy of the Red Rock Indian Band called the gathering a chance to raise awareness and honour the children who never made it home from Canada's residential school system.

“In our community itself, we’ve had an Indian day school, and generations touched and affected by the residential school system and the Indian school system," he said.

Hardy expressed gratitude and enthusiasm over the turnout, saying organizers had worked with Ministry of Transportation to ensure the walk took place safely.

Mayor Richard Harvey of Nipigon said the event had been defined by the coming together of residents from Nipigon and area First Nations.

“We very much are an integrated community," he said. "That is what I love about Nipigon. We do try to do everything together, taking a stand making it clear that we are a community - yes, there are many communities here, but we are one community."

However, he acknowledged it had also been a time to confront what can sometimes be uncomfortable truths.

"Reconciliation can only happen if there’s truth," he said. "That’s what we are out here for today."

“We’ve done this walk to take some time just to recognize the truth and hear the stories of this legacy we’ve inherited, and then to think about what we're going to do with this inheritance, how will we move forward from here."




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