Truth and Reconciliation exercise winds up this weekend

OTTAWA (NEWS1130) – A six-year exploration and examination of how First Nations lives were changed forever thanks residential schools is coming to an official end.

Hundreds of survivors will gather in Ottawa this weekend for closing events of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the tabling of its final report.

It was a painful process but survivors and Canadians in general are better because of it, says a BC hereditary chief, who was instrumental in the creation of the commission.

Robert Joseph of the Gwawaenuk First Nation says he met with residential school survivors 20 years ago and even then they were desperate to tell their stories.

Joseph, a survivor himself, would go on to become the Ambassador of Reconciliation Canada.

He says the exercise of sharing their pain and trauma allowed other Canadians to understand.

“I think had Canadians not discovered this hidden secret that we had, we would have been condemning aboriginal communities into states of brokenness and despair for a longer period of time.”

He believes all Canadians in general benefitted from the hearings.

“Canadians, now more than ever before, realize we have a shared history and a duty to hold each other up and be responsible for each other.”

The closing ceremony, which will take place over three days, will include a Reconciliation Walk and sharing circles. The report will be made public Tuesday.

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