By Katelyn Goodwin
September 29th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Friday afternoon, from 4-7 PM, residents, indigenous or otherwise, will be gathering in Spencer Smith Park to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Phyllis Webstad (nee Jack) is Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band). She comes from mixed Secwepemc and Irish/French heritage and was born in Dog Creek but now lives in Williams Lake, British Columbia.
Also recognized as Orange Shirt Day, Truth and Reconciliation Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative event inspired by the story of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad who travels the country raising awareness about the impacts of Canada’s residential school system while talking about her experiences when she was at a residential school.
Both local Indigenous people and support groups will have public displays set up, interactive events, information booths, and a ceremonial gathering will take place in the park.
People are encouraged to come to the park to learn and participate in these events and displays. Participants wishing to join are encouraged to wear orange shirts.
The path leading to the canal and the lighthouse was once a rail bed that had two tracks that brought steam engines into Burlington where they were loaded with produce that was shipped around the world. The canal is also the border between Burlington and Hamilton.
An event of significance will be a reflective walk which will start at the pier at 4 p.m. and end at the Lift Bridge lighthouse where a ceremony will take place before attendees’ head back to Spencer Smith Park.
City of Burlington administration buildings will be closed. .
The mayor in her bulletin that was sent out today suggested that people wear an orange shirt ( which is fine as this is what the indigenous community decided as a sign of respect). The other thing the mayor suggested was that people in addition to the orange shirt wear moccasins on the reflective walk from Spencer Smith Park and the Lighthouse.
Asking for people to wear moccasins, in my opinion, is very condescending and unacceptable.
An apology should be forthcoming from the Mayor to the Indigenous Community.