For the third year, The Falstaff Family Centre is the venue for events during Truth and Reconciliation Week leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Events are intended to help raise awareness, foster learning, aid in inclusivity, as well as help attendees gain an understanding of the impact of colonialism.
Events are presented in collaboration with Kaswentha Two Row Now, a Huron-Perth group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members.
There will be two exhibits from the Legacy of Hope Foundation presented at the Falstaff Community Room.
A National Crime: Canada’s Indian Residential School System as well as Remembering and Honouring and the Way Forward: 10 Years After the Residential School Apology will be on display today (Sept. 23) to Friday from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Oneida First Nation elder and a member of the Turtle Clan, Patsy Day and Falstaff Family Centre Owner and Director Loreena McKennitt, spoke with My Stratford Now about how exhibits aid in awareness and understanding.
“This has been a subject too long hidden, I would say,” expressed McKennitt.
Day explained the importance of Truth and Reconciliation events, and the impact they have on Indigenous individuals.
“It’s like an open wound still. And I think of some of these actions that we’re doing and what Loreena is doing, is like the salve that we need to put on that wound, because there has been too many bandaids over the years,” Day said.
Day also discussed how she believes Canada is slowly taking steps forward in reconciliation.
“I think this has finally started to become the way that were going to heal, the acknowledgement, the recognition, [and] the respect now,” expressed Day.
The exhibit will run all this week as well as on Monday, Sept. 30 when the Falstaff Family Centre will be the site of a variety of events starting at 7:30 a.m., to honour Truth and Reconciliation Day.
During exhibit hours, orange t-shirts will also be for sale by Winona Sands from Howling Moon Aboriginal Arts, a member of Walpole Island First Nation.
For more information, visit the Falstaff Family Centre’s website.
