How advocates are taking meaningful steps toward reconciliation

Marie Wilson wants the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to be embraced by all Canadians. But she has concerns about how the day is being observed. 

"I do notice with some concern, actually, that even over the past couple of years the number of non-Indigenous people who show up and celebrate that day is not stable," Wilson, a former commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, told Unreserved host Rosanna Deerchild.

This year marks the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed annually on Sept. 30. In 2015, the commission called on the federal government to establish the statutory holiday to honour residential school survivors, their families and communities.

"There was a reason why we argued for it in our Calls to Action to be a national statutory holiday," said Wilson. "We want it to be something that belongs to all Canadians."

She wants the day to play a role in keeping Canadians attuned to our history, making sure the impacts of the residential school system are never forgotten. 

"Make sure you're doing something meaningful for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation … and that it's not a one-day event, that you're thinking about the implications of that," she said. 

For her, the commission's only non-Indigenous commissioner, continuing the work means using her skills as a journalist and educator to continue sharing the stories of survivors. 

Unreserved spoke to two event organizers to hear from their experience how to meaningfully honour residential school survivors on this day. 

Tréchelle Bunn founded the Reconciliation Run, which takes place on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It began as a healing walk, inspired by her late grandparents who were survivors of the Birtle Residential School. 

Bunn says the statutory holiday is first and foremost a day for elders and survivors to share their stories, and to remember those that never made it home. 

"But I think when we talk about reconciliation, our non-Indigenous counterparts have a major, vital role in all of that as well," she added.

Since the run began, Bunn has seen growing numbers of non-Indigenous runners join in. Residents of Birtle, Man., have also donated food and volunteered at water stations. 

"It's been beautiful, and good for the relationship between my community and the town of Birtle."

One interaction with a non-Indigenous participant at the first run stands out to her.