I want to share a story that I had with my hairdresser, who was going through the immigration process in Canada. She was telling me a bit about what she was learning, but she had no idea about the residential schools. I proceeded to educate her and she did some research, and when I come back to see her, she was telling me all of what she'd learned.
To me, indigenous people, through the signing of the treaties, have contributed to Canada, and I think it's time that was recognized. We continue to contribute.... Signing those treaties and agreeing to live in peaceful coexistence says a lot about aboriginal people or first nations people in this country.
It's important that it's recognized, but it's also very important that people learn about our history. When you talk about truth and reconciliation, it's about truth and going to the past. As bad as it was, it's also important that we acknowledge it and reconcile and move on, so that we can become partners and live in peaceful coexistence as it was determined in those treaties.