PHOTOS: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation marked in Hay River
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation marked a special day in Hay River and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation Reserve for much of the week last week.
William Simon, Sabia Nessel, Piper Sunrise, Miley Fabian, Katlodeeche First Nation Reserve Roy Fabian, and Hunter Norn all take in a solemn moment during the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation events, Sept. 29. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation marked a special day in Hay River and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation Reserve for much of the week last week.
All schools participated in activities to mark the day to honour residential school survivors and remember those lost and forgotten from the government mandated institutions.
One of the more novel events from the Sept. 29 festivities included a drone photo flyover of Diamond Jenness Secondary School as students dressed in orange stood outside.
Other schools in the community also held solemn events. K’atl’odeeche First Nation Elder Roy Fabian led a drum session and prayer and spoke to students at the Chief Sunrise Education Centre, Sept. 29. Ecole Boreale, Princess Alexandra and Harry Camsell schools all held activities of their own throughout the week.
Fabian, former Chief, emphasized that there is much work to be done before reconciliation can happen between Canada and Indigenous people.
“As young people, you are our future,” he told the KFN students. “Hopefully we are going to teach you to be loving, kind, respectful and caring for one another.
“Everybody is welcome in this community and all of you are from this community. Your belong here and we should never abandon you and you should never abandon one another.”
The Town of Hay River also held a flag raising ceremony on Sept. 29 at the fire hall.
The Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre hosted a special drumming ceremony and small luncheon on Sept. 30.
– Photos courtesy of Aaron Tambour Productions
Hunter Sabourin Chicot, Alice Jensen, Des Sunrise, Dayna Bugghins, Nateyaa Dosedel, Aalayah Yakinneah and Parker Tambour listen to Elder Roy Fabian during the Sept. 29 National Day of Truth and Reconciliation prayer and drum sessoin at the Chief Sunrise Education Centre. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoParker Tambour, Niko Ekanale-Martel, June Buckley (teacher), Elijah Norn (seated), William Simon, Sabia Nessel, Emily Schaub (volunteer student in orange back), Piper Sunrise and Miley Fabian all quietly listen and reflect during a prayer and drum session marking National Day of Truth and Reconciliation at the Katlodeeche First Nation Reserve’s Chief Sunrise Education Centre, Sept. 29. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoSchool children from Chief Sunrise Education Centre marked the significance of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation with a drumming ceremony and storytelling with elder Roy Fabian at the school, Sept. 29. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoThe École Boréale Grade 5/6 class stand in front of the school’s sign decked out in bright orange to mark National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. From left are Mme Karen Wall, Sophia Touesnard, Grade 5, Avianna Babiuk, Grade 5, Daigan Lafferty, Grade 6, Avery Groenewegen, Grade 6, Francis Cook, Grade 6, Kason Coombs, Grade 6, Arianna Morais, Grade 6, M. Pierre Cook. photo courtesy of Pierre CookEmmanuelle Poitras-Dewar, Grade 3 and Mme Christine Sivret, Grade 3/4 teacher, take part in a commemorative hand painting project to mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Sept. 29. photo courtesy of Pierre CookThe École Boréale teachers and community marked the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation with special observation, Sept. 29 ahead of the statutory holiday. From left are Pierre Cook, Richard Létourneau, Maxime Ferland-Beaupré, Christine Sivret, Nicolas Rivard, Karen Wall, Pierre-Benoît Rondeau-Chalifoux, Isabelle Pineault-Chambers, Edith Vachon-Raymond, Étienne Brière, Stéphanie Crête, Gabrielle Vienneau, Geneviève Gingras-Breton, and Aline Chichéry photo courtesy of Pierre CookThe very youngest of the school community got into the mix by doing some colouring and creating bright orange shirt blocks. They included from left, Mme Stéphanie Crête, Léo Gobeil, Grade 1, Kaleb Lajoie, Ggrade 1,, Madeleine MacNeil, Grade 2, Enzo Sabaldica, Grade 1, Calvin Schyder, Grade 1, Colin Queen, Grade 2, Lennox Millette, Grade 2, Ford Pillipow, Grade 1, Nola Babiuk, Ggrade 2, Bryar Wilkins, Grade 2, Smith Coombs, Grade 2, and Jean Guy Cook, Grade 2. photo courtesy of Pierre CookStudents from the École Boréale’s Pre-Kindergarten and kindergarten class marked the day with activities outside. From left are Isabel Queen, Samuel Swanson, Emmylou Poitras-Dewar, Willow Morais, Campbell Pillipow, Boris Lemonier, Élodie Rivard, Emiliana Poitras-Dewar, and Eva Sabaldica. photo courtesy of Pierre CookAnnalee Monkman, Grade 4, stqands with a commemorative Every Child Matters craft at Princess Alexandra School on Sept 29. photo courtesy of Carolyn CarollSoaring Eagle Friendship Centre held a much welcome drumming session and ceremony on Sept. 30 that was followed with an opportunity for residents to mingle over stew, bannock and cake. Friendship centre executive director Joanna MacKay and Wallace Burke, shelter support worker show one of several Every Child Matters cakes they served, Sept. 30. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoBrittany Hendrickson, executive assistant serves Damon Michell a slice of cake curing the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation gathering at Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre, Sept. 30. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoCaroline Arcand, cook, gets playful with the stew and bannock with Brittany Hendrickson, executive assistant at the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation gathering, Sept. 30. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoAngela Jones and Alida McKay, both sister-in-laws, kick back and enjoy the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation luncheon at the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre, Sept. 30. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoThe Sept. 30 luncheon at the friendship centre allowed old friends and acquaintances to get together and mark the special National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. From left are Julia Pokiak-Trennert, Dinah Carnogursky, resolution health worker, Ann Firth-Jones, resolution health support worker, and Doris McGillis-Caudron, resource worker. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoMichelle Buckley brought some young ones in to the friendship centre to mark the day. From left are Ms. Buckley with Aberielle George, seven, Lexi Lafferty, eight, and Mayla Buckley, five. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoGrade One students from Harry Camsell School mark National Day of Truth and Reonciliation with orange shirts and a big sign reading Every Child Matters. In the back row from left are Support Assistant: Bev Tybring, Gwen Highfield, Lucas Grandguillot, Jacob Dean, Jagger Jones, Zykia Vyse, Avalon Gauthier, Memphis Tourangeau, Belle Graham, Lane Gauthier, Jacob LeBlanc,and Alex Sayine.In front from left are Mila Gour, Mayla Buckey, Akira Baxter, Christine Oslund, Bentley Gaede, Celeste Graham, Teacher: May Famorcan, and Support Assistant: Taylor Price. photo courtesy of Carolyn CarollThe Town of Hay River held a flag raising ceremony at the fire hall which inclded town officials, the RCMP and Indigenous leaders raising the orange Every Child Matters flag, Sept. 29. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photoTown of Hay River officials and the RCMP held a flag-raising ceremony at the fire hall Sept. 29. The orange Every Child Matters flag was raised to mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. photo courtesy of the Town of Hay River
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