Vigil marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Members of the Wilmot Indigenous Relations Interfaith Working Group (WIRIWG) gather in front of the Reconciliation Quilt. From left to right are Nancy Dale, Caterina Lindman, Barbara Safri and Gladys Bender. Not pictured are Melissa Miller and Cathy Bowman. Diane Danen photo

By Diane Danen

The Wilmot Indigenous Relations Interfaith Working Group (WIRIWG) and Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hamburg hosted a vigil on Sept. 30 to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

The vigil was held on the green space on Peel Street, next to Trinity Lutheran Church. Orange shirts hung from trees, while a Reconciliation Quilt provided a backdrop for the service.

The Reconciliation Quilt was created by community members of the Waterloo Region who were invited to make a square representing what reconciliation means to them. The squares were than pieced together creating the Reconciliation Quilt. The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) purchased the quilt and now makes it available for display at special events like the vigil.

The vigil began with a welcome highlighting the origins and importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A land acknowledgement and the story behind Orange Shirt Day were also shared. The evening included songs, prayers and a moment of silence providing an opportunity to reflect and remember.

Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at residential school in 1973. Wearing orange on Sept. 30 honours Indigenous children who attended residential schools and promotes the message that every child matters.

“Orange Shirt Day is to honour Indigenous children that went to residential school and promote awareness of what they went through,” said Gladys Bender, a member of WIRIWG.

“There were thousands of children, and some of them didn’t come home. So many didn’t come home. It wasn’t about their education; it was about taking away their culture.”

The WIRIWG works to foster respectful and understanding relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in the Waterloo Region. Formed in collaboration with four Wilmot churches, the group works toward reconciliation through educational events and community projects, while helping to raise awareness of the impact of residential schools on Indigenous communities in the region.

As part of its ongoing work of learning and understanding, guests at the vigil were invited to attend an upcoming book discussion hosted by the Book Club at Trinity Lutheran Church on Nov. 17 at 7 p,m. The group will discuss the book, Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation, written by Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson. All are welcome to attend.

Through events such as the vigil and opportunities for continued learning, including the book discussion, The Wilmot Indigenous Relations Interfaith Working Group continues to bring people together to learn, listen and build understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the community.