Canadians across the country are marking the 6th annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, honouring the survivors of residential schools and those who never returned home.
In the 19th century, more than 150,000 Indigenous children in Canada were separated from their families and communities and sent to church-run residential schools where abuse, malnutrition and inadequate health care were rampant.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission initially documented the deaths of 3,200 children of residential schools, however, experts at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation say the actual number could be much higher.
The establishment of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th was among the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report.
According to the independent monitor Indigenous Watchdog, 14 of the 94 calls to action have been completed in the last 11 years, with 41 recommendations considered in progress, 24 stalled and 15 not started.
Today we honour, reflect, and learn about survivors of the residential school system and those who did not come home.
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