Residential school survivors gather at The Confluence for a healing and teaching journey on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Thousands gathered at events throughout the city to mark the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. Tyler Barrow reports.

A large gathering of Calgarians were on hand at The Confluence Tuesday for events related to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

Leonard Weasel Traveller, from Piikani First Nation said events like Tuesday’s were part of a healing journey for Indigenous children and a learning experience for others.

“Today I look at it as I hope there’s healing for people,” Weasel Traveller said, “And (I hope) the greater public across Canada begins to recognize and admit the atrocities that went on at residential schools.”

Mayor Jyoti Gondek was among those in attendance and said the size of the gathering was inspiring.

“More and more people are attending every year which is amazing,” Gondek said. “And learn more about what the truth is and our journey to reconciliation. It is amazing to see so many people (here today).”

Another event on Tuesday was a walk organized by the Pokaiks Reconciliation Society.

Joyce Healy, a Kainai Elder and founding member of the society is a residential school survivor. She was also busy sharing the stories and traditions of the day with her grandchildren.

“I also come from five generations of residential school survivors,” she said. She said events like the ones taking place Tuesday are “part of the telling of the truth and history of what is now Canada and even more the cultural genocide of our Pokaiks.”

Healy said she traditionally wears a scarf that symbolizes Orange Shirt Day, but on Tuesday she said, she wore one as a tribute to the children of Gaza.

Events continue throughout Tuesday, including an Elders Storytelling gathering at Jack Singer Hall at Werklund Centre Tuesday evening.

With files from CTV’s Tyler Barrow