This year, for the first time, Truth and Reconciliation Day (TRD) on September 30 will be observed as a statutory holiday in Manitoba. In honour of the day, a number of local organizations are preparing events, and they encourage all Manitobans to participate in order to reflect upon and learn from the legacy of residential schools in Canada’s history.
In Niverville
To kick off the TRD weekend, Canada Awakening Ministries invites people to a special event on Friday, September 27 at the Niverville Community Fellowship Church.
At 7:00 p.m., attendees can take part in an evening of coffee and desserts followed by a concert by Broken Walls, a world-renowned musical group who focuses on performing the songs and sounds of First Nations people. The event is free.
“Too many human hearts, families, communities, and nations are broken and in pain because of the ancient walls of prejudice and misunderstanding,” an advertisement for the ad states.
Jonathan Maracle is the early founder, and current member, of Broken Walls. It all began with a song Maracle wrote for Elijah Harper’s Sacred Assembly in 1995. Since 1998, the band has been performing at venues around the world, including in South America, Asia, Europe, and across North America.
Friendship Trail
On Saturday, September 28, Orange Shirt Day celebrations will return to the St. Adolphe Friendship Trail between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Organized collaboratively by the trail’s volunteers, the St. Adolphe Métis Local, and the RM of Ritchot recreation department, the event will provide a wide range of things to see and do.
This year, the Story Walk will greet attendees along the dike. The Story Walk is a path revealing a series of signboards, each containing an illustrated page from a book written by Phyllis Webstad. Webstad was a residential school survivor who made famous the orange shirt, which has become a national symbol for TRD.
Entertainment will be provided by two fiddling groups. In the afternoon, Morgan Grace will perform alongside her father, Keith Ginther. The sounds of Nickolas Messner and his band will provide the backdrop for a local hoop dancer.
Canadian First-Aid Training President Christian Clavelle and staff will make presentations along the trail.
Families will enjoy a scavenger hunt as well as wood-carving demonstrations and bannock roasting over the open fire.
New this year is the unveiling of an authentic Red River cart, a symbol of Métis history and culture.
“We purchased it last year with a grant through Indigenous Northern Affairs and we wanted to have it [built] state-of-the-art,” says Gerry Lagasse, Friendship Trail volunteer. “[It’s made by] Armand and Kelly Jerome, who have been building these for twenty-some years.”
According to Lagasse, there will be enough funding left over to construct a foundation and roof to house the cart, which will make its eventual home next to the civic building on Main Street.
The unveiling will take place between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. at the Friendship Trail.
For anyone interested in receiving or renewing their Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) citizenship, the MMF Citizen Mobile Unit will be set up at the Friendship Trail site during the event.
“Everyone is invited to join us on this exciting day to take a lovely walk on this 2.7-kilometre trail,” says Lagasse.
At the Forks
On Sunday, September 15, 2024, The Forks in Winnipeg will host the eighth annual We Are All Treaty People Celebration.
The event is free to attend and will feature Indigenous arts and crafts, food, family-friendly games, and music and dance by Indigenous and non-Indigenous performers.
Performers include artists such as Fontine, Scott Nolan, Casati, and the Mason Sisters Hoop Dancers. As well, attendees will enjoy a performance by the Island Breeze Pacific Island dancers, who also appeared at this year’s Folklorama.
Past poet laureate Duncan Mercredi will debut a specially commissioned poem. Mercredi is a respected Cree-Métis poet and storyteller from Grand Rapids. His poetry is deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions, carrying profound reflections on land, identity, and healing.
“As the community gathers to mark the 150th anniversary of Treaty 4, this event serves as a reminder that Treaty commitments are not solely the responsibility of Indigenous peoples but of all peoples in Canada,” the event announcement states. “Non-Indigenous organizations are leading this celebration, emphasizing the importance of these historical agreements and their ongoing significance in creating a just and equitable future.”
Organizers of the event include MCC Manitoba along with Winnipeg Quakers, TRC Action Committee United Church, and the Diocese of Rupert’s Land (Anglican), in partnership with the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
