70,000 people take part in Walk for Reconciliation in Vancouver | Postmedia News Sept. 22, 2013
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John
Sep 23, 2013, 4:21:17 PM9/23/13
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Wow! This is amazing and very wonderful to
see happening!
Canada.com Coverage (with Video):
http://o.canada.com/2013/09/23/70000-walk-for-reconciliation/
CBC Coverage (with Video):
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/thousands-walk-for-reconciliation-in-vancouver-1.1864051
Link to Reconciliation Canada Website:
http://reconciliationcanada.ca/participate/walk-for-reconciliation/
70,000 people take
part in Walk for Reconciliation in Vancouver
Organizers amazed at turnout as tens of thousands braved the rain to participate
Sarah Taguiam
A sea of people that organizers estimated at 70,000
braved pouring rain and chanted their way through downtown Vancouver on Sunday
for Canada’s first reconciliation walk.
“It’s amazing … that so many people came out in spite of
the rain to show their commitment to reconciliation and creating a new society
that embraces all of us,” said Reconciliation Canada executive director Karen
Joseph.
The four-kilometre walk from Queen Elizabeth Theatre to Coast Salish lands near Science World was the finalé of a weeklong Truth and Reconciliation event where First Nations people strove to move past the horrors they suffered in Canada’s residential schools.
But survivors weren’t the only ones present during the walk.
Bernice King, daughter of American civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr., delivered an impassioned speech in which she called the past treatment of First Nations people appalling.
“Struggle is a never-ending process and freedom is never really won, you earn it and you win it in every generation,” King said in front of a cheering crowd.
“But non-violence is the only way. It allows you to aim against oppression but not against the oppressor because … hate will destroy the hater more than the hated.”
Members of different cultural communities from around B.C. attended the event to show their support.
“Thousands of people from all walks of life, from every colour and every culture, are all here as Canadians to share the First Nation people’s pain and healing,” said Navnit Singh, a survivor of the 1984 Sikh massacre in New Delhi.
Residential schools ran for more than a century in Canada under the belief that Aboriginal children should learn Canadian customs to assimilate into mainstream society.
The federal government and churches have apologized for the abuse and the depressing conditions students suffered in residential schools.
About 75,000 past residential school students have also received financial compensation as a part of Canada’s attempt to address its past policies.
King said that steps like these are important in empowering people, but First Nations members must stay strong in their struggle to create a better future.
“Walk together, children, don’t you get weary,” King said, quoting the lyrics of a traditional spiritual.
“Struggle together, hold on together, don’t you get weary.
“And one day, you’ll be able to join hands and say … free at last, free at last.”
— with files from The Canadian Press
stag...@theprovince.com
twitter.com/SarahTaguiam
The four-kilometre walk from Queen Elizabeth Theatre to Coast Salish lands near Science World was the finalé of a weeklong Truth and Reconciliation event where First Nations people strove to move past the horrors they suffered in Canada’s residential schools.
But survivors weren’t the only ones present during the walk.
Bernice King, daughter of American civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr., delivered an impassioned speech in which she called the past treatment of First Nations people appalling.
“Struggle is a never-ending process and freedom is never really won, you earn it and you win it in every generation,” King said in front of a cheering crowd.
“But non-violence is the only way. It allows you to aim against oppression but not against the oppressor because … hate will destroy the hater more than the hated.”
Members of different cultural communities from around B.C. attended the event to show their support.
“Thousands of people from all walks of life, from every colour and every culture, are all here as Canadians to share the First Nation people’s pain and healing,” said Navnit Singh, a survivor of the 1984 Sikh massacre in New Delhi.
Residential schools ran for more than a century in Canada under the belief that Aboriginal children should learn Canadian customs to assimilate into mainstream society.
The federal government and churches have apologized for the abuse and the depressing conditions students suffered in residential schools.
About 75,000 past residential school students have also received financial compensation as a part of Canada’s attempt to address its past policies.
King said that steps like these are important in empowering people, but First Nations members must stay strong in their struggle to create a better future.
“Walk together, children, don’t you get weary,” King said, quoting the lyrics of a traditional spiritual.
“Struggle together, hold on together, don’t you get weary.
“And one day, you’ll be able to join hands and say … free at last, free at last.”
— with files from The Canadian Press
stag...@theprovince.com
twitter.com/SarahTaguiam
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