GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SUPPORTS NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMEMORATION
September 28, 2023
September 29, 2023
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SUPPORTS NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMEMORATION
Guelph, ON– Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph
Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, announced financial support to commemorate the National day for Truth and Reconciliation today.
The residential school system is a topic that can be traumatic as we reflect on memories of past abuse. Messages around the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation can be an unwelcome reminder to those who have suffered hardships through generations of government policies that harmed Indigenous Peoples.
A 24-hour support line at 1-866-925-4419 provides crisis referral services to Survivors and their families and explains how to obtain other health supports from the Government of Canada. First Nations, Inuit and Métis seeking immediate emotional support can contact the Hope for Wellness Help Line toll-free at 1-855-242-3310, or by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca
MP Longfield announced funding of $10,000 from the Government of Canada to support the Knowledge Keeper in Residence Project at Willow Road Public School to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Guelph, ON. This announcement was made on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge.
With the funding from this project, the primary goal of Willow Road PS is to honour and work with Leslie Muma, Métis beading artist who is herself a residential school survivor. Leslie has been working as an artist and knowledge keeper with the Upper Grand DSB for over five years. Leslie shares her knowledge and skills as part of Willow Road PS’s Indigenous Knowledge and Math collaboration with Dr. Ruth Beatty of Lakehead University. Leslie has had a tremendous impact on students and staff.
This project will allow Leslie to spend 20 days at Willow Road PS this year as the school’s Knowledge Keeper in Residence. She will meet with self-identified Indigenous students as a mentor, build relationships with students and staff, teach the school community about Métis history, culture and community, and co-teach with teachers in classrooms offering a loom beading and math collaboration. The students at Willow Road will have the opportunity to craft artifacts involving beading and unpack ethno-mathematics within the art.
Willow Road PS principal Lindsey Tremblay shares, “Over the past five years, our students and staff have benefitted immensely from the opportunity to learn from Leslie Muma. Our school community has increased our awareness of the history of residential schools, engaged in the craft of beading, and learned a great deal about Métis culture and traditions. Leslie has built important relationships with our students and staff, and we are so thankful for all of the knowledge that she continues to share with our community. We are extremely grateful to have the support of the Canadian Heritage grant to continue to engage in the work of Reconciliation as we continue our partnership with Leslie.”
This funding was awarded under the framework of a call for proposals for projects that raise awareness of the history and impact of residential schools, promote healing and reconciliation, and commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Public commemoration of the tragic history and impact of residential schools is essential to the healing and reconciliation process. Canada is committed to continuing its efforts to pursue truth and reconciliation, to right historical wrongs, and to support communities in their efforts to foster healing for the Survivors of residential schools, their families and their communities.
To learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, visit here: Canada Heritage National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Quotes:
“Commemoration of our county’s traumatic residential school impact is so important for reconciliation with Indigenous Survivors, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and their families to begin to foster healing. We have a responsibility to educate ourselves and future generations about Canada’s painful history and I am pleased to see the Upper Grand School Board raising awareness.”
-Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph
“Over the past five years, our students and staff have benefitted immensely from the opportunity to learn from Leslie Muma. Our school community has increased our awareness of the history of residential schools, engaged in the craft of beading, and learned a great deal about Métis culture and traditions. Leslie has built important relationships with our students and staff, and we are so thankful for all of the knowledge that she continues to share with our community. We are extremely grateful to have the support of the Canadian Heritage grant to continue to engage in the work of Reconciliation as we continue our partnership with Leslie.”
-Lindsey Tremblay, Willow Road Public School Principal
Contacts:
Lianne Cassidy
Chief of Staff to MP Lloyd Longfield
Heather Loney
Upper Grand District School Board