Truth and reconciliation week was a success at Lethbridge College this past week.
With the college deciding to make a week of truth and reconciliation, it had several events planned.
National Truth and Reconciliation Day was created to help recognize and commemorate residential schools and to honour the survivors, their families and their communities.
The college’s Niitsitapi strategy focuses on how it can make the campus welcoming to Indigenous peoples, but also to educate everyone.
“We are humbled by the physical location we have and wanted to be able to share the indigenous knowledge in a meaningful way through the land. The walk was 2 years in the making and represents learning from William Singer III and our grandparents,” said Paula Burns, president and CEO of Lethbridge College.
Thursday was an important day on campus with the Survivors’ flag being unveiled to celebrate National Truth and Reconciliation Day. This flag was raised on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and at the Legislature in Edmonton.
“Our day of reflection yesterday included personal survivor stories from our grandparents Peter Weasel Moccasin and Betty Ann Little Wolf and a keynote address by Chief Wilton Littlechild,” said Burns.
Lethbridge College student Sascha Beacome is in the massage therapy program and says this day is a big achievement for the college.
“I felt very proud that our college community recognized Truth and Reconciliation Day, because lots of us don’t realize how many families were affected by this and this allows us to bring awareness to all children who lost their lives in these schools,” says Beacome.
The lissksiniip (Coming to Know and Learn) Coulee Walk was unveiled on Tuesday as the Truth and Reconciliation week continued at the college. This is an interpretative self-guided tour. It will help individuals learn more about the traditional stories of the Siksikaitsitapi, also known as the Blackfoot Confederacy.
“I feel this will help recognize that we are walking on land that the indigenous peoples discovered and that will help us remember what they went through,” said Beacome.
The college was closed on Thursday, Sept. 30.
“Today, we encourage all employees and students to learn more about the residential school experience, to listen to the stories of indigenous people and to reflect on the calls for action the TRC released in 2015 and what each of us can do to make a difference,” said Burns.