‘Never forget who we are’: Hundreds walk to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Kitchener

Hundreds of people gathered for a special walk in Kitchener, Ont. to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. CTV's Hannah Schmidt reports.

Members of the Indigenous community and their allies gathered in downtown Kitchener Tuesday for a walk honouring children lost to the residential school system.

Dubbed “A Walk to Remember and Honour All of our Children,” the annual event was organized by The Healing of the Seven Generations.

“We’re going to have a big turnout today of people that come and support and remember the children that we have lost, the children that are still here and the children to come,” said Serena Wesley, a program manager at The Healing of the Seven Generations.

For many, including Indigenous artist Judy Ross Mack, Tuesday’s walk hits close to home.

“My mother, my grandmother, all my aunts and uncles had gone to the schools, and then it happened to me. I was part of the Sixties Scoop,” an emotional Ross Mack said. “But the happy part too is knowing that my two boys, they’ve never had to go through any of that. So, I was able to stop that cycle from happening to my children.”

The walk began with the unveiling of a newly wrapped Waterloo Regional Police Service auxiliary cruiser. It was designed by Ross Mack and is meant to serve as a moving symbol of remembrance.

“I never thought that my art piece would be chosen to represent the police car wrap, so I was really, really overwhelmed,” Ross Mack explained. “Part of my design is in remembrance of family and the family bond that we have - the unity, the love, the healing. When you think of it, a lot of families were so torn apart from the schools.”

“[It’s] really a groundswell from several Indigenous organizations that wanted to recognize our commitment and partnership to each other and also to truth and reconciliation and the work that we’re doing to advance this great cause in our region,” said Waterloo Regional Police Service Chief Mark Crowell.

The idea for the police car wrap was brought forward by William Martin, a member of the local Indigenous community, who worked with the Waterloo Regional Police Service to see the idea realized.

“There’s good relationships with the Indigenous community, with the police service, and I believe this also helps to better those relations [and bring] more conversations at the table,” Martin said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I think this has been a great first step on those relations.”

“[The cruiser] is now part of our operational fleet. It’s an auxiliary cruiser that belongs to the community,” Crowell explained. “It will be available for different community events. Not in an operational capacity, but to connect and to build that bridge of education and partnerships with Indigenous groups in and around the region.”

Participants walked to the Victoria Park clock tower, where they were met with drumming and special speakers sharing messages of healing and reflection.

Executive director of The Healing of the Seven Generations, Donna Dubie, acknowledged that some people may feel uneasy with a police presence at such events, saying it’s important to honour and validate those feelings.

“I want to let you know that we are still with you,” she said, addressing the crowd at Victoria Park. “We still walk with you, however way that we can. But I want to acknowledge that I hear your truth.”

The walk comes just two days after a memorial display of crosses in Victoria Park, set up ahead of Tuesday’s event, was tampered with.

“It was hurtful to us, whether that was the intent or not,” Wesley said. “But we’re not going to let it dampen our day. We’re going to move forward.”

Police said they are still investigating.

“We recognize it’s alarming and concerning when any such event occurs and we’re working with The Healing of Seven Generations to ensure that that site is preserved,” Crowell said.

Organizers and attendees said the day is about more than one walk - it’s about building truth into every step the community takes moving forward.

“For us to be able to move forward, we have to build relationships with other organizations to make it safe for our children and to help build their fire,” Wesley said.

“Never forget who we are as people,” Martin said. “Our Reconciliation Day is not just for our community, but the community as a whole. It’s overwhelming to see how many people are here today. It really hits in my heart.”