Timmins honoured Truth and Reconciliation Day by listening
Truth and reconciliation gatherings in Timmins honoured the day by highlighting the importance of listening and learning from the emotional stories of people who attended residential school.
The Timmins Native Friendship Centre asked supporters to reflect on what they learned and to act on it going forward.
Speakers told those who came out to support that this is neither a day of celebration nor one of sorrow, but a day to listen and learn.
Storytelling is at the core of indigenous culture and the centre's executive director says having local elders share their experiences attending residential school is the best way to educate people.
"Expressing and telling our story, that in itself is a healing process and passing on some knowledge. Like we've–not only have we heard individual experiences, but we also receive some teaching out of that," Mickayla Bird with the centre said.
The friendship centre thought people would also benefit from learning the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, which say that to live a good life, people need to value love, wisdom, respect, truth, humility, honesty and courage.
"These are teachings that anybody should be fostering in their worlds ... I think it's really important to start on a day like today when we have all these people gathering together on this issue," Caitlyn Kaltwasser, a career developer at the centre, told CTV News.
Officials said the call for more meaningful action to atone for the atrocities committed against Indigenous people is a critical part of the day, however; so is learning about the people themselves.
To help this generation learn it is important that residential school survivors share the traumatic experience they went through and the lasting impacts it has had on them and First Nations communities.
"It's meant to help build us to be better people and to also create the pathway for a better future ... We want unity, we want to feel equal and we also want to heal. But also recognizing that we're not all on the same hearing journey. We're all starting at different points in our lives and that's ok," Bird said.
Speakers noted that these conversations should not be limited to Nation Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Bird said the friendship centre is figuring out how it plans to honour that and hopes members feel taken care of and that the city as a whole can support them.
More information on events being held by the centre can be found on their Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.