Moving ceremony commemorates National Day Of Truth & Reconciliation in North Frontenac

Craig Bakay | Oct 06, 2021

When Phyllis Webstad was six years old, she was taken from her family in British Columbia and placed in a residential school, where they took away an orange shirt she was wearing. The shirt had been a gift from her grandmother.

Now, almost 50 years later, the orange shirt has become a symbol for the loss of indigenous identity caused by those residential schools.

“Today is a day of growth,” said Shabot Obaadjiwan Chief Doreen Davis told the crowd gathered at the North Frontenac municipal office to commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation before she went on to recount Webstad’s story and why the orange shirt is so important.

“We carry this on today (and) it’s important we don’t let this go.

“It’s a day of education, who we are, who our ancestors were and how they got us to where we are together.”

Before joining Mayor Ron Higgins to raise the orange Every Child Matters Flag, Davis presented Higgins with a carved plaque, designed by Sharbot Lake artist Donna Larocque, that shows the 10 Algonquin communities and the area representing more than 10,000 people. The plaque will be displayed inside the municipal offices.

“Ron and I have been on a journey together for quite awhile now,” she said. “Ron has extended nothing but goodwill to me.”

For his part, Higgins said that one of his first missions after becoming mayor was to meet Chief Doreen, repairing damaged trust by making apologies and establishing a new and respectful relationship.

“First, I want to personally thank Chief Davis for attending our even today,” Higgins said. “As she mentioned, she had many invites to attend ceremonies today and chose our invitation based on our sincere and meaningful relationship over the years.

“This is not just a ‘tick off my to do list activity.’ Today we recognize the Truth, both here and across Canada, tomorrow we begin Reconciliation in earnest — both here and across Canada.”

Higgins said he has the 100s of pages in the Truth and Reconciliation report and issued a public apology to “our Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations Peoples” and to all First Nation, Metis and Inuit Peoples.

“We are sorry about the atrocities that took place by our ancestors and as descendants we will strive to take the next step in reconciliation.

“Whether one is First Nations, Inuit, Metis, a descendent of European settlers, a member of a minority group that suffered historical discrimination in Canada, or a new Canadian, we all inherit both the beliefs and obligations of Canada.

“We are all Treaty people who share responsibility for taking action on reconciliation.

“Today we recognize and acknowledge the truth and commit to a sincere path to reconciliation,”