Indigenous Alberta

In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Rocky View Schools (RVS) unveiled a temporary outdoor art installation in partnership with Blackfoot artists at the public school division’s Education Centre in Airdrie on Oct. 5.

“We just want the world to know how we feel about today and about the Residential Schools,” said Stoney Nakoda First Nation member Jennice Clarke. “I hope we can build a stronger bridge with the surrounding areas — Cochrane, Canmore, wherever. It hits very deep, especially to the survivors and us as children of the survivors. It does cycle its way back to us.”

On a gloomy afternoon a crowd formed to watch the unveiling of a monument dedicated to every student that was forced to attend one of Canada’s 139 Indian Residential Schools.

“I would like to see more people from our local towns and even the city to learn more about First Nations people, who we are, and our beliefs."

Student walk the previous day was ruined by man hurling racial slurs

PHOTOS: Hundreds attend National Day for Truth and Reconciliation walk

Students at École Notre Dame High School celebrated Orange Shirt Day a day early.

Week of action highlights Indigenous culture

The day was established to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities as one of the 94 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.