Courtney Entner, the library’s community services coordinator, took the time to tell me about an event organized to highlight National Day of Truth and Reconciliation last year at the Spruce Grove Public Library. With her permission, I share her words with you: “This was an evening of thought-provoking truth-telling and sharing to help move forward to right the wrongs inflicted upon Canada’s First People.
– Event began with Ted & Alexis Wright singing and playing music while guests were being seated (with a prayer and smudge in the lobby) .
– Performances of hoop dancing, jingle dress dancing, fancy shawl dancing, and a mother and a child performing a traditional dance.
– Two elders spoke about their personal recollection of residential schools
– Guest speakers: Dr. Tracy Friedel, President of Lac St. Anne Metis Community; Spruce Grove Mayor Jeff Acker; Parkland County Mayor Allan Gamble.
– Holy Angels, featuring the late Lena Wandering Spirit of Alberta’s Fort Chipewyan, one of more than 150,000 Indigenous children sent to residential school. James Jenka, one of Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Centre’s resident Elders, attended this school with Lena, and offered first-person testimony of his experience and insight into the residential school system. This film, created by Jay Cardinal Villeneuve, speaks of the resilience of a people who have found ways of healing – and of coming home again.
– Two guest speakers shared their personal stories (residential school and the Sixties Scoop)
– Dianne Meili, President of Skydancer Indigenous Culture Society played her drum 215 times in honor of the children found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School
– Event closed with guests adding personal pledges towards reconciliation, in addition to tea, fruit infused water, and Bannock being served in the lobby where everyone came together as one
The event, albeit emotional and heartbreaking, demonstrated the resilience and the strength of the Canadian Indigenous community. Additionally, this event symbolized the resurgence of Canadian Indigenous culture, and the utmost importance of solidifying the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the Tri-Region area (City of Spruce Grove, Town of Stony Plain, and County of Parkland).
*Emotional support (Ruth Linklater) was available for the duration of the event, in addition to digital/paper resources for guests*”
(Description of this event by Courtney Entner, Community Services Coordinator, Spruce Grove Public Library)