The Cowessess First Nation says ground-penetrating radar recently discovered 751  unmarked graves at the Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. 

Recently Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation discovered of 215 children buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in unmarked graves.

There is an outflowing of emotion: outrage, dismay, profound grief. And there are many unanswered questions that need to be asked in the coming days and weeks. This shared history of residential schools profoundly impacts residential school survivors, their families, and their communities and indeed all Canadians.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada made 94 Calls to Action.  Number 80 was to establish a statutory holiday, a National Day For Truth and Reconciliation, to honour Survivors, their families and communities and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of resident schools remains a vital component of he reconciliation process.  

The Canadian government has proclaimed September 30 as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  Small step, however moving in the right direction.

Authentic reconciliation will only occur when we each do our part, taking lots of small individual steps.  Let’s join hands and step together.