Tomorrow is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, along with Orange Shirt Day.

The remembrance honours the children who never returned home as well as Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.

On Thursday, the Municipality, along with the Athabasca Tribal Council, hosted a Community Gathering and Walk to recognize the occasion. The event began with the RMWB raising the Survivors’ Flag, accompanied by Indigenous music and drumming.

“The impact of the Residential School System continues to have a long-lasting effect on our families and communities. The truth is that we must support community members as they continue to heal,” said Chief Allan Adam, President of the Athabasca Tribal Council and Chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation ahead of the event.

An estimated 1,000 people came together to walk through downtown, engaging in a process of listening, learning, and reflecting on the legacy of the residential school system.