The Canadian government has implemented Sept. 30 as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
In order to learn more about the Canadian residential school system I recently visited the Woodland Cultural Centre. The centre is located on the site of the Mohawk Institute (the residential school that was located near the 6 Nations Reservation) and is dedicated to reserve and promote Indigenous history, art, language and culture.
Our visit was particularly poignant this year after the discovery of thousands of unmarked graves on former residential school sites - the children who never made it home to their loved ones.
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