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National Truth and<br />
Reconciliation Day<br />
Williams Lake First Nation hosted<br />
a celebration for the first ever<br />
National Truth and Reconciliation<br />
Day on September 29th. The<br />
vehicle procession, which began<br />
at St. Joseph’s Mission School<br />
could be seen weaving it’s way<br />
through the valley, out through<br />
Sugar Cane, before finally crossing<br />
the highway and heading up to<br />
the arbor.<br />
The arbor was a sea of orange,<br />
with hundreds of people turning<br />
out to show their support and<br />
honor victims of residential<br />
schools. Cultural Coordinator,<br />
David Archie brushed off those<br />
who wanted it with sage whilst<br />
others sat and listened to Chief<br />
Willie Sellars address the crowd.<br />
“Residential School is not<br />
something I had to live through<br />
myself, but it was only a<br />
generation ago that we did,” he<br />
said. “We could feel the emotion,<br />
hurt and trauma and to see the<br />
great turnout today, it just fills<br />
your heart and it continues to fill<br />
your heart the more that we come<br />
into nekw7usem and to unity and<br />
we stand together side-by-side.”<br />
The opening prayer was led<br />
by elder Jean William in both<br />
Secwépemc and English.<br />
The drumming circle, performing<br />
the Honour Song commenced at<br />
2:15pm, as did multiple others<br />
across Canada. This initiative was<br />
led by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc<br />
Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir<br />
who encouraged the world to<br />
drum for the children.<br />
10 BOO MAGA - NOVEMBER <strong>2021</strong> BOO MAGA - NOVEMBER <strong>2021</strong> 11
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