Canada Day has taken on a new air across the country in 2021.
Over the course of May and June the bodies of hundreds of Indigenous people, both children and adults, have been discovered at mass graves at former residential school sites in multiple provinces.
The conversation surrounding Indigenous people and Canada Day celebrations was brought to the forefront and many communities throughout the country elected to scale back, alter or outright cancel celebrations in solidarity with Indigenous communities while they mourned.
Prince Edward County’s Canada Day committee announced in mid-June that they would not be planning a celebration in light of the discovery of the bodies of 215 Indigenous children at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops B.C.
In Quinte West there was no in-person event planned and the municipality organized a moment of silence for 2:15 p.m. in support of the victims of the residential school system.
In the City of Belleville, plans for Canada Day were finalized before the first discovery. After a meeting of the Belleville Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee in mid-June, the committee elected to move forward with the plans for a community heroes recognition ceremony and car parade past long term care homes.
The committee also set the table for future events to involve more consultation with Indigenous Peoples.
People gathered at West Zwick’s to mourn the victims of the residential school system on Canada Day. July 1, 2021. (Photo: Ryan Peddigrew/Quinte News)
Thursday morning, dozens of people flocked to West Zwick’s Park donning orange shirts in support of Indigenous communities. A group called Voices for Change organized a separate event to share Indigenous songs in a mourning ceremony.
Everyone circled around and listened as they sang and played drums and rattles. They sang songs empowering women, men and songs of togetherness.
Dustin Brant was born and raised in Tyendinaga and he said that he felt overjoyed with the gathering.
Brant told Quinte News that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous communities haven’t been able to gather in a long time and that he was happy they were finally able to.
“Just being together again. This is kind of the first time. We haven’t had any ceremonies going on anymore, no socials, this is kind of the first one in about two years. It was much needed and we’re doing all we can the best way we know possible to help people along their journey throughout this process.”
Brant said COVID-19 restrictions have been tough on his community. He said they are very family oriented and communal.
“It’s awesome to have this opportunity, finally, again. It’s awesome that people are healing both from this sickness and also from the news. It hit our communities. We need more than just to be able to talk to each other on phones and social media and stuff like that. We need to be able to gather. I feel amazing right now and I’m sure a lot of people are walking away with that same feeling and they probably didn’t want it to end just like I didn’t want it to end… Not to say that it’s contagious, but it’s something that we needed.”
He said he believes that with the mourning and being able to gather, the community is stepping in the right direction.
As far as reconciliation, Brant says that education is the way forward.
“For me reconciliation starts at home. What I teach my children and what they can teach their community. They’re the teachers, they’re like little sponges and they just soak up everything.”
Following the ceremony the Belleville Chamber of Commerce’s separate “Recognizing Community Heroes” event began in front of the Belleville sign, which was adorned with children’s shoes and signs that talked about the tragedies of residential schools.
Belleville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jill Raycroft explained the community heroes ceremony.
“This was our second year doing a community heroes recognition presentation. We invited the MP, the MPP and the mayor to present – and obviously during Covid it’s not really a presentation, but they do come – and they each have a certificate and they’re acknowledged for being a community hero. Community heroes are nominated by members of the community. It’s an open call for anybody who has gone above and beyond or has made an impact on somebody’s life and particularly during the pandemic.”
People lined the Belleville sign at West Zwick’s Park with children’s shoes and signs about the residential school system’s victims. July 1, 2021 (Photo by: Ryan Peddigrew/Quinte News)
Initially there were no plans put in place for a same day ceremony acknowledging the Indigenous community’s mourning. Raycroft sat on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee meeting and it was generally agreed that a concurrent event may be seen as tokenism or disingenuous.
However, Raycroft said that she reached out to Erin Ferrante of Voices for Change on Facebook and found out that she had plans for a separate event in the same location.
“She explained what their plans were, I explained what our plans were and we said that would be wonderful. I think we’re extremely grateful that they chose to share their mourning songs with us and for those who were here at 9:30 and were able to hear it, I think it was extremely meaningful. As she said, we’re two different canoes, but we’re looking forward to being on the same space and moving forward. I think we’ve really opened the door now to include Indigenous culture into more of our events. Canada Day may never be that day because Canada means something very different, but moving forward I’m hoping that we’ll find ways to incorporate where we can and where it’s meaningful and respectful.”
She said that they didn’t have enough communication with the Indigenous community before but moving forward they’re looking forward to collaborating.
Across the way from the Belleville sign in West Zwick’s on the other side of the base of the Bay Bridge, there was an art installation.
The installation featured orange cutouts of children lined up in rows on the hill. The cutouts had letters and numbers on them and were arranged to spell out the names of the sites of former residential schools where mass graves have been discovered so far and the number of bodies discovered at each.
The art installation featured cutouts that spelled the names of sites where mass graves have been discovered. (Photo: Ryan Peddigrew/Quinte News)
At the top of the hill, there was a cross which had notes pinned to it.
The art installation was the brainchild of Brandie Maracle, who is Indigenous.
Maracle said that she wanted to use the installation to bring people closure.
“Visual art is an amazing way to express oneself. It’s also a way for people to unite. It’s so transparent. I want this day to give some people the closure that they needed.”
She said that accountability would bring closure to Indigenous people and that reconciliation can happen with learning and listening.
“Get to know your neighbours. Close those books and shut google off and maybe just listen instead of talk. You’ll learn.”
She said that the installation had many visitors already by midday and that through it she had built many friendships that she cherishes.
At West Zwick’s, Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith and Bay of Quinte MP Neil Ellis were on hand to present certificates to the community heroes.
The community heroes are:
- Mike Callaghan of the Belleville Police Service for assisting with United Way Grocery delivery
- Tonisha Porter of the Best Western for housing Loyalist students/residence lockdown
- Connie Carson for organizing groups to support anyone who needs help within the community
- Beverley Santoro of Eurest Services for cleaning support for vaccination clinic
- Lorrie Ostroskie of Holiday Inn Express Belleville for caring for international students in quarantine
- Rob Haggerty of ITS for supporting essential deliveries throughout the pandemic
- Larry Burnett of Loyalist College for building first responder shelters
- Mark Kirkpatrick of Loyalist College for college-wide pandemic planning
- Lisa Lynn of Loyalist College for keeping the Loyalist College community safe
- Gilbert Lavalliere and Rob Darling of Paladin Security for supporting guests at vaccination clinic
- Sarah Cadorette of Plan A Kingston & Quinte for leading the Plan A team Lead in LTC during COVID
- Maxine Holland of Preferred Personal Care for Supporting LTC in the GTA in the first wave & providing ongoing homecare
- Heather O’Brien, QHC Nurse
- Kurt Vanclief of Willowlee Sod Farm for food sustainability initiative at Loyalist College
Following the ceremony of community heroes recognition, there was a vehicle parade driving through Belleville past long term care homes and finishing at Belleville General Hospital.
