Evidence of meeting #5 for Canadian Heritage in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was schools.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
1:05 p.m.
Phyllis Webstad
No, we haven't come up with any changes. It's good the way it is.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
1:05 p.m.
As an Individual
The bill is pretty straightforward, in my view. I'm glad, however—and I need to mention this—that the word “truth” also is included in the bill, so it's “truth and reconciliation”. I think they go together, and I'm happy to see that both words are included.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Given that there are no changes recommended to the bill, I'm going to move to the other question, and I probably only have a chance to ask one of you. I think it has kind of been answered by Ms. Scott already.
Ms. Webstad, in terms of educating people on the reasons we're adopting this day, I also read your books with great attention. I really appreciate the fact that you wrote them for children. Other than making sure that we get the monument completed and providing the education that you see we should be providing for commemorating this day, is there anything else we should be doing on this day? There are public education campaigns, particularly for schools, and a monument that members of Parliament and other people in Ottawa can go to. Is there anything else you would offer that the government should be looking to in terms of commemorating this day?
1:05 p.m.
Phyllis Webstad
I'm glad you asked that, because I had my hand up to talk.
One of the things I always say when I speak about this statutory holiday is that the concern is having a day off to “put your feet up”, as Stephen said, but I encourage the federal government workers and indigenous people—who get the day off because they're federal—to find an Orange Shirt Day event, since they're all across Canada, and volunteer to set up chairs, take down chairs, help an elder, hand out water, or show up with your smudge bowl. Do whatever you can do, but get out of the house and get to an event.
This isn't a federal suggestion, but I just want to throw it in there. I and another person are working with the Niagara Falls illumination committee. This year Niagara Falls was lit up for 15 minutes, one minute per 10,000 of the 150,000 children, and I want to get the information out to Canadians that we're working on getting this happening on the U.S. and the Canadian sides at a specific time every year. I'm suggesting 8 a.m. Ontario time, so it would be 5 a.m. B.C. time. Families can stand out wherever they are and say out loud their families' names so that those 150,000 names are being said.
I plan to be in Niagara Falls in September of 2022 and I invite you all to be there.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
That's phenomenal, and I'm going to close by saying that hopefully all members of Parliament will organize events in their ridings to complete that day. I think it's important for all of us, and of course I hope the provinces will also get involved in recognizing the holiday.
I see Mr. Kakfwi wanted to say something, so I'll close and yield my time so Mr. Kakfwi can finish.
1:05 p.m.
Governing Circle Member, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Thank you.
The work that needs to be done is not just with non-indigenous Canadians. Part of the work is with indigenous people as well, with indigenous families. As an example, it's only about four years now since I found out that some of my mother's relatives were in residential school from 1860 on. For over 130 years my family was in residential schools, and it was only when my mother turned 80 that she finally told us that the reason she never talks about her childhood is that she didn't have any. She spent almost 10 years in a residential school, and she only told us when she was 80 years old.
We still don't know very much about what she went through, but there's so much learning and healing to be done within our own communities. We need, as indigenous people, to mark and commemorate, and to heal together as well. It's not just non-indigenous people who need to engage, although we need that; the greatest healing that needs to be done is within the families of residential school survivors.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi, for a very good note to end this meeting. Unfortunately we don't have more time, but fortunately it was a good meeting, and I want to thank you all for doing it.
I want to thank Romeo Saganash, our dear friend, who joins us. I want to thank acting director Stephanie Scott from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as governing circle member Stephen Kakfwi. Of course we especially want to thank Phyllis Webstad from the Orange Shirt Society, executive director and proud founder of Orange Shirt Day, for her insight.
One more time, Ms. Webstad: What's that website again?
1:10 p.m.
Phyllis Webstad
It's orangeshirtday.org.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Thank you all. We have to end it there. Again, I appreciate everything you've brought to us today. This has been a very good session.
The meeting is adjourned.