Next Friday is the second annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, known more as Orange Shirt Day, but Cochrane’s Ininew Friendship Centre is making an entire week out of it.
We have a link to the schedule here. Monday to Thursday have several events centered mostly around the schools.
Ininew health outreach worker Melody McComb-Uiselt says Friday begins with the lighting of the twelve-hour sacred fire at a sunrise ceremony. Then at 11:00am, an Honour Walk starting at the friendship centre.
“We’re going from here to the Apitisawin Education building,” says McComb-Uiselt. “They already have a tepee set up there. We’re also going to have bouncy castles, all sorts of things set up.”
There’s also a community lunch at noon for anyone, not just the Indigenous community.
McComb-Uiselt says even in only its second year, Orange Shirt Day is showing signs of increased support and understanding, from both Indigenous and mainstream groups.
“We encourage everybody, not just our Indigenous community in Cochrane, but everyone. We don’t care what walk of life you’re from, come out. It’s about awareness and education and that will lead to understanding.”