Flag at half-mast in memory of Indigenous children

By Lorenzo Gavilan Vargas Times Reporter

The Canadian flag in the Husky parking lot was lowered to half-mast early on Canada Day during the Indigenous Memorial and Recognition Ceremony. Speaking at the event was Indiginous Liaison Astokomii Smith, Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule, Elder Eileen Black, Waylon Black, and former Siksika Chief Darlene Yellow Old Woman-Munro.

The event began with a prayer led by Elder Black, followed by 215 seconds of silence in remembrance of the 215 children whose remains were found at the former Kamloops residential school.

“Today, for us Indigenous people, Siksika people, this is what it is about. We are in mourning,” said Black. “Those 215 children have woken up the world and Canada. It’s about the need to work together and not to forget the harm that was done to our people.”

Next to speak was Waylon Black, a former student of Fule’s with experience in community wellness and human services. In his speech, Waylon described his surprise at how long some schools were open, explaining that he always thought of them as elements of the distant past.

“I was aware that my grandmother and mom attended but it didn’t seem real to me,” said Waylon. “It was the strength of our Elders that carried us through today …they always say history repeats itself. This time let us not repeat history. Let us move forward, and let us stand proud together. We will always be together as a community.”

After this, Yellow Old Woman-Munro spoke. She recounted her memories from her time at residential school, and how those experiences led to her success later in life. She was a registered nurse, the first Indigenous woman to be a senior manager at the federal government, and the first female chief at Siksika.

“Despite everything that happened to me at residential school and day school, I did okay, “ she said. “That was from the support of various people who encouraged me to go on with my education.”

The ceremony was closed with words from Mayor Fule. As a former teacher, Fule always thought that schools should be a safe, reliable place for kids, which is why he said the town has been working closely with Siksika to ensure that the damages done in the past by residential schools can be remedied through tangible actions.

“My big fear that really has bothered me, working with the council from Siksika is that there may be a lot of graves that we find,” said Fule. “So in the future Strathmore needs to be ready to support our First Nations neighbours.”

Canada Day celebrations were more reserved this year in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, according to Fule.

“We still want to celebrate the aspect of Canada as a country but we don’t want to forget our Siksika neighbours so it’s much more low key.”