Kincardine mayor calls for observance, education, reflection on Canada Day

On behalf of council and the Municipality of Kincardine, I would like to extend condolences to the Cowessess First Nation and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation for the dark and devastating discovery of the Indigenous children found on the residential school sites in Kamloops and Saskatchewan.

This is a time of profound sadness and mourning. For some of us, it is also an awakening to the dark, tragic and very real part of Canada’s history that we have inherited.

Let this Canada Day be one of observance, education and reflection. Make a personal commitment to educate yourself on the history of Canada and reflect on how best you can work toward healing, action and reconciliation with Indigenous people.

We have inherited this history. We can’t change the history, but we can change our future actions which are based on understanding the truth of Canada’s history.

The municipality is encouraging people to wear orange July 1 to show our support and stand with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation  which includes the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the Saugeen First Nation, as well as the Métis Nation of Ontario, the Historic Saugeen Métis and all Indigenous communities across Canada.

Orange is the colour associated with efforts to remember Canada's residential school history: the survivors, the generations that continue to feel the impact, and the children who never came back to their families.

The municipality will continue to fly the Canadian flag at half-mast July 1 on municipal buildings, in solidarity with Indigenous communities.

In addition, the municipality will be distributing signs and stickers to businesses across the municipality for people/business owners to show their commitment toward reconciliation on Canada Day (should they wish to). 

July 1, three resource tables will be set up at three locations – Macpherson Park, and downtown Kincardine and Tiverton. There, you will find resource information, cards for you to write your comments, and stickers to give out to the community to show your commitment to reconciliation.

As a municipality, we will work on actions together with the community to support community learning and action toward reconciliation. These actions will be based on meaningful relationships and respectful collaboration with local Indigenous communities.

I encourage you this Canada Day, and every day, to move ahead in your understanding of Canada’s history. Thoughts and words are not enough. We must demonstrate our commitment to action in order to move toward healing and reconciliation with Indigenous people. And the fact is, that there can’t be reconciliation without understanding the truth. To understand this truth we need to educate ourselves on the history.

Changing how we observe Canada Day is something we need to reflect on, going forward. We can love our country, but knowing it is flawed and being brave enough to individually and collectively demand better, is more aligned with the values this country and this community are proud of, and want to be known for. It's knowing and acting on our responsibility to stand in solidarity with the Indigenous people of this land.

If you need support or if you know of community members who need support, a National Indigenous Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former residential school students and those impacted. This service can be accessed by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866 925-4419.

For more information, visit: https://www.kincardine.ca/en/living-here/journey-to-reconciliation.aspx.