Crowds gather at UBC to honour National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

On the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, many gathered at the University of British Columbia to learn about the harm caused by the residential school system.

On Monday a sea of orange could be seen listening to speakers at the Fifth Annual Intergenerational March on Orange Shirt Day.

“We are all human no matter the colour of our skin – our thoughts on our spirituality our language or the way we carry ourselves we are all fellow human beings,” said Larry Grant, Musqueam Elder.

This year’s theme was “reconcili-action” where participants were encouraged to reflect on how they can commit to impactful change in their community that supports that meaningful reconciliation.

Mackenzie said people shared their personal reconciliation goals by writing them on orange paper t-shirts at the end of the march.

“Reconciliation is what action can you take, how can you show up, how can you personally commit to reconciliation more than just one day, more than just September 30th… for the whole year,” she said.

People also had the opportunity to experience Indigenous culture.

Mitchell Tourangeau, a participant at the march, shared traditional formalities with those participating in this year’s event – by offering smudging – a ritual he says is done before a ceremony to cleanse one’s mind, body, and spirit.

” So when we grind it down- and we use it as a smudge- it helps us with our mental and emotional health- and also my partner she’s a bear dancer so we are also bringing that bear medicine as well,” he said.

The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation was recognized as a statutory holiday in 2021.