Montrealers march on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Orange-clad marchers gathered at Mount Royal Saturday afternoon – on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – to highlight the struggles and rights of Indigenous People.

The event, organized by the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and Resilience Montréal, began at the George-Étienne Cartier monument.

Marchers walked to the pedestal where a statue of Canada’s first prime minister, John A. Macdonald, once stood before being toppled in 2020. Macdonald was an architect of the residential school system.

“It’s an important day to remember the genocidal history of Canada and to remember more importantly those children that never went home,” said activist and filmmaker Ellen Katsi’tsakwas Gabriel.

“I’m hoping the general public understands that today we’re here to talk about a horrible time in Canada’s history,” Resilience Montreal board director Ann Deer said.

“If we don’t learn our past, we’re going to repeat our past. And because of that dark history we have many people still struggling.”

The federal holiday is not recognized by the government of Quebec. The “Every Child Matters March highlights the continued struggles for justice and dignity in Indigenous communities.

“I think its really disturbing that there’s a denialism that this is an important day I think the fact that premier Legault denies that there’s any systemic racism is a form of genocide. And creating an erase of a complete peoples historical experiences and a continuation of colonization,” said Gabriel.

Orange-clad marchers gather on Mount Royal for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation march Sept. 30, 2023. (Brittany Henriques, CityNews)

This day aims to raise awareness of the impacts of residential schools and honours the many Indigenous children who died at those facilities.

Survivors on Saturday shared their horrific experiences and how intergenerational trauma persists over many generations.

“My mother was a survivor I saw the trauma that she had, I grew up with that trauma. So be9ng here today gives me a chance to give a voice to not only my mothers but aloof those they tried to silence,” said drummer Jim Sa’ke’j Hemsworth.

“I never got to enjoy my family, my parents and I’m not alone there’s a lot of us that went through the residential school system but we’re still here we’re still trying to learn we’re still trying to learn our language, we’re taking back what was taken from us which is our language, culture and even our identity. Because in residential school you didn’t have an identity, I had a number, my number was seven, imagine that?” said one residential school survivor at the Montreal march on Saturday.

RELATED: Montreal students participate in Spirit Walk for Truth and Reconciliation Day

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement Saturday morning that reconciliation is the responsibility of “each of us.”

“Today, as we mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, we confront the lasting impacts of the residential school system for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in Canada,” Trudeau wrote.

“We come together to remember the children who were stolen from their communities, and those whose lives were stolen from them at these so-called schools. We honour the survivors, many of whom suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

“We listen to their truths, and we reiterate our commitment to building a better future for Indigenous Peoples and for everyone in Canada.”

Quebec Premier François Legault wrote on X, alongside a short video: “On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, let us remember their stories. We all have a duty to know each other better, to understand each other better.”

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante invited citizens to “listen to our fellow indigenous citizens and reflect on their historical contribution.”

“Together, we move forward on the path to reconciliation with heart and conviction,” she wrote on X.

En cette Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation, souvenons-nous de leurs histoires. On a tous un devoir de mieux se connaître, de mieux se comprendre. pic.twitter.com/ETkdWqaTaO

— François Legault (@francoislegault) September 30, 2023

Ensemble, nous avançons sur le chemin de la réconciliation avec cœur et conviction. ????

Profitons de la Journée nationale de la vérité et réconciliation pour écouter nos concitoyen(-ennes) autochtones et réfléchir à leur apport historique. pic.twitter.com/wALZze4qa6

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) September 30, 2023

“People feel forgotten and we have people that have shame because they feel they weren’t given opportunities to live as one as indigenous people and so hopefully today we give that hope back,” said Deer.

“We have such a long way to go in regards to this work of making people more aware in regards to this work of making more people aware and to either bring the children home or respect indigenous protocol in honouring these children,” said Gabriel.

The Mohawk Mothers claim there is strong evidence to suggest that medical experimentation leading to death was performed on indigenous children and that bodies were buried on the site former Royal Victoria hospital and mcgill grounds.

Excavation is allegedly set to continue on Monday.

The group gathered on Saturday before the march at the site to protest the work being done.

“I don’t feel that as indigenous people were are treated equally or treated with respect our dignity has always been attacked and until things actually change on the ground not just on paper i think indigenous people will continue to resist and continue to fight,” said Gabriel.