June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day across Canada.
In New Brunswick, residents will have an opportunity to come together in the province’s capital to commemorate the history and culture of Indigenous Peoples. The event will begin at 1 p.m. on the doorstep of the New Brunswick Legislature.
Attendees can learn more about the Orange T-shirt Campaign, the Red Dress Campaign and many other ongoing initiatives. There will also be speakers focused on the topics of indigenous organizations working towards achieving meaningful progress.
“This is a time that we need to gather to honour all those that have gone before us, including the 215 undocumented children and the path moving forward on healing and reconciliation,” said Allan Polchies, Chief of St. Mary’s First Nation.
A memorial will be held towards the end of the event to remember the 215 children found in a mass grave at the former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
Participants are encouraged to bring unused children’s shoes to be laid on the steps of the Legislative building.
Polchies notes that National Indigenous Peoples Day coincides with the summer solstice, a time often associated with gathering.
That’s why the event will be open to the public, with the intention that this gathering can produce an informative and educative space.
“What we need to do is have a clear understanding of truth and reconciliation and the call for action,” said Polchies, adding that discussions should start at a young age, “Sometimes it’s an uncomfortable conversation, but those are the ones we need to have. That’s part of Canada’s history, and in order to understand the Indigenous people of today, we need to understand the past.”
For Polchies, his community and anyone interested, the day will end with a firework celebration that signifies steps in the right direction.
