On Wednesday, September 27, Elders, students and employees gathered at the Castlegar Campus to raise the Every Child MattersTM Flag in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“This flag speaks truth to the tragic period of over 100 years in which First Nations, Inuit and Metis children were confined in Indian residential schools to devastating effect. Throughout this period, Indigenous Peoples fought against the system in many ways, and the efforts of residential school Survivors to tell their stories and to seek justice has led to this growing public recognition of the atrocities and the multigenerational impacts of residential schools,” said Selkirk College President Maggie Matear.
“This flag is meant to represent their courage and their perseverance,” she continued. “On behalf of the college, I’m honoured to be raising this flag as a symbol of our commitment to reconciliation. We hold ourselves accountable to the obligations that Canadians have to address the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Report.”
The flag is displayed at campuses and learning centres throughout the region.
Find out more about Selkirk College's 94 Days of Education and Action initiative and commitment to truth and reconciliation.