The Office of the Treaty Commissioner celebrates the passing of Bill C-5 by the senate. The bill will allow for the creation of a statutory holiday to commemorate the terrible legacy of residential schools in Canada.

This work that lead to this bill began in 2017, when former MP Georgina Jolibois, from La Loche and the Clearwater River Dene Nation, introduced a private member’s bill. She sought to establish a day for “reflection and celebration of Indigenous history and contributions to our collective society.”

It did not pass at the time, but current Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault introduced Bill C-5 in committee in 2020. During the senate readings last week, Guilbeault said the objective of the day is to create a chance for Canadians to learn about and reflect the dark chapter Cana’s history and to commemorate the survivors, families and communities.

The OTC knows that truth must come if we are ever to have reconciliation, and while it can be painful, it is important that we have the opportunity to understand these truths and our history.

We thank Georgina Jolibois for taking from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations and starting the work towards creating a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

This is another small step in a long journey to see reconciliation in Canada.