A relay in honour of the indigenous residential school children whose unmarked graves are being located at the former schools across the country was held on Canada Day.
The roughly 40 km relay saw indigenous people and allies walk or run from Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation to Saugeen First Nation. They started with a on opening ceremony at Nawash at about 5:30 a.m. and arrived at Saugeen First Nation about 12 hours later.
Organizer Billy Bannick says they saw support from the communities they passed through.
“We had people show up with horses, we had cars on the side of the road that said ‘every child matters’ there were people standing there with orange shirts and their arms up in the air, rooting us on. There were cars honking and giving us tribute. It was a really beautiful day,” says Bannick.
Bannick says 30 people each took a 2 kilometre leg of the relay and were joined by others as they made their way, “There was something like over 100 at least.”
Bannick, who is from Neyaashiinigmiing came up with the idea while he was out for one of his regular runs and happened to be wearing an orange shirt. He wanted to do something to help his community honour the thousands of lost residential school children, and with the help of community members, organized the relay.
A closing ceremony was held near the community centre in Sauble Beach at about 5 p.m. Because of pandemic concerns, organizers say they wanted to keep the ceremony on the smaller side.
Bannick says the ceremony included a drum and an Eagle Staff circle. “We bring everyone around in a circle and we all lay our prayers prior to that, and then walk around and do a big circle and showcase everyone that was there. Those Eagle Staffs led it, which are very sacred to us. They host a lot of ceremonies,” says Bannick adding, “It was really nice for me to actually hold one myself. I felt honoured.”
He says what he’d like to see going forward is Canada Day celebrated in collaboration with First Nations, “I was hoping maybe both leaders could sit down and discuss that, but I don’t know if we’re there yet,” says Bannick.
Bannick says for his community, Canada Day brings up a lot of emotion, “There’s a lot of hardships because the truth of residential schools is finally being brought to light, of our children that were taken– they’re gone. So it really hurt our communities.”
Bannick says as more graves are located, there is more mourning, noting, “But we actually had a day of being at peace. We paid our respects, so a lot of people were sort of uplifted and feeling stronger…because I know there’s more to come ahead. More graves that are going to show up.”
Bannick’s message for his community is —“Don’t hesitate to pick up your culture, pick up a smudge bowl. I just want to encourage, if you’re Native, or half, whatever—it doesn’t matter. Just please grab a smudge bowl and be proud of who you are. Don’t be scared to touch it. Everyone’s worthy.”
A walk was also held in Owen Sound which saw a large turnout in support of the indigenous community as an estimated 600 to 700 people in orange walked from the east side of the harbour by the health unit, over to the Reconciliation Garden on the other side of the water where they could pay their respects at a ceremonial fire.
Meanwhile, numerous municipalities in Grey Bruce including both Counties lowered their flags to half mast in solidarity with First Nations.
Owen Sound Walk Photo By Steve Ritchie
