“Today, a sea of orange will flood our streets as we acknowledge the injustices of the thousands of children who were stolen from their families and placed in Indian Residential Schools. We honour the lives lost and continue our commitment to the process of reconciliation.
“Orange Shirt Day started as simple story that shared a simple truth, how childhoods and identities were stolen by residential schools. Phyllis Webstad’s story of loss resonated from her home in Williams Lake across the country and now this date is officially known as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“It’s a day that brings up horrific memories in Canada’s history and serves as a reminder for the impact of residential schools still felt today. It’s a day for some tough discussions and ownership of terrible decisions. And it is a reminder that these events happened right here in our community.
"Today’s Walk for the Children will end at the the Syilx Okanagan Indian Residential School Monument, next to the hatchery – a location that was chosen as it is where the train and the cattle trucks came to gather the children to take them away from their families.
“The road to reconciliation won’t be easy, it doesn’t come with a map that shows the start and finish. Instead, the journey of reconciliation is a lifelong relationship where we walk side-by-side and discover the path together untainted by prejudices and infused by courage, honesty
“On this Orange Shirt Day, I encourage everyone to wear orange and learn about the Indigenous history of the lands you reside on. We all have a role to play on the journey towards reconciliation.”