What the multi-coloured lights on the Sudbury police's Tree of Hope mean
It was a solemn but also celebratory moment at times outside the Greater Sudbury Police Service Sunday night as a "Tree of Hope" was lit at the corner of Brady and Minto Streets.
The tree was lit at exactly 7 p.m., in solidarity with four other police services -- UCCM Anishnaabe, Timmins, Barrie, and Thunder Bay -- as a way to honour missing, murdered, Indigenous women and girls along with two-spirited individuals.
"This is really a special evening and it's an evening about hope," Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen said. "It certainly acknowledges the tragedy that exists currently but is also a real commitment to moving together and really acting on those recommendations from the truth and Reconciliation report."
The Tree of Hope initiative first started with the Thunder Bay Police Service three years ago.
Pedersen said he's hopeful this will serve as a reminder to Sudburians who see it.
"It's not lost on me that this is a time where we celebrate the festival of lights," he said. "This is a time where we put Christmas lights up and this tree is up so maybe we can check our privileges and understand not everyone gets to enjoy what we get to enjoy but we can move forward and have a better future."
The tree will be lit up with three colours. Orange to honour the thousands of victims lost as a result of residential schools, red to honour the thousands of MMIWG2S, and then a line of blue to represent the role police played in furthering systemic racism and oppression.
"We're in this together. We want to work collaboratively to come up with solutions and we want to learn from terrible tragedy and move forward and we're committed to that," Pedersen said.
"It's important to acknowledge that this is a start and there's much more work to be done," said Craig Nootchtai, chief of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. "I just want to say that we need to continue our support for our friends in the MMIWG2S community."
Nootchtai praised the Greater Sudbury Police Service for some of the collaborative work its been doing to carry on the conversation.
He talked to the crowd about how the system has failed Indigenous women and two-spirited individuals, saying much of that has to do with some of the inter-generational trauma they suffered as a result of residential schools.
"It's not just the adults but also our children that have been affected, so we need to make sure we're addressing that as well," Nootchtai said.
"It's heartbreaking for me because four years ago I was in Regina and they brought in families who have gone through a missing family member," said Wahnapitae First Nation Chief Larry Roque. "They brought family after family. It's frustrating and it's maddening but at least now we're getting it out there more."
Roque is hopeful this will get recognized as the serious problem that it is, adding women, children and grandchildren are sacred to Indigenous culture.
"They're the future," he said.
The evening also saw a sacred fire with ashes from the original fire in Thunder Bay, drumming and smudging.
The lights will remain up for the entire holiday season.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
NEW Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Parents of infant who died in wrong-way crash on Ontario's Hwy. 401 were in same vehicle
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.
Tiger Woods gets special exemption to U.S. Open at Pinehurst
Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the first time the three-time champion has needed an exemption to play.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
Maple Leafs down Bruins 2-1 to force Game 7
William Nylander scored twice and Joseph Woll made 22 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday to force Game 7 in their first-round series.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
WATCH LIVE Federal government to announce funding to help Toronto host six 2026 World Cup games
The federal government is set to announce funding to help Toronto host six matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Is your password 123456? Here's why you should make it stronger
With the sheer number of passwords needed today, it may come as no surprise that over 60 per cent of Canadians feel overwhelmed, and over a third reportedly forget their passwords monthly.