In 2015 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) made 94 calls to action to redress the legacy of residential schools. Number 82 on the list deals with publicly accessible and highly visible residential school monuments in each provincial and territorial capital.
The city of Yellowknife and the Yellowknife Dene First Nation (YKDFN) have set the wheels in motion to respond to that call. As the monument remains in its preliminary stages, details of what, where, and when remain unknown.
NNSL file photo.
Ernest Betsina, chief of Ndilo, says the monument would honour SA国际影视传媒渇riends and family that have passed on, as well as those that survived and are still dealing with the impacts of residential schools.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 important that this legacy get recognized and for us to have a monument where people can gather and remember,SA国际影视传媒� he says.
While it canSA国际影视传媒檛 yet be confirmed, Betsina says for the monumentSA国际影视传媒檚 location, they are considering the old site of Akaitcho Hall SA国际影视传媒� a residential school that closed its doors in 1994, and later became a dormitory for Sir John Franklin high school students from out of town.
In a letter responding to the proposal in April, Premier Caroline Cochrane expressed shared interest SA国际影视传媒渋n moving forward with a monumentSA国际影视传媒� and suggested a working group be formed between the governments.
City Councillor and Yellowknife Heritage Committee Chair Julian Morse says they are awaiting a meeting with the GNWT to discuss next steps. He says that YKDFN is leading the project and that the committee will play a role in supporting the project if asked by YKDFN.
A timeline on the monument remains to be seen, though Betsina says they will SA国际影视传媒渢o keep an eye outSA国际影视传媒� for more information. With colder weather looming he suspects the monument will be delayed until at least the spring.
In a letter of support for YKDFN, Mayor Rebecca Alty says the project reflects the citySA国际影视传媒檚 commitment to reconciliation.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are in a unique position to facilitate awareness of the history and legacy of residential schools,SA国际影视传媒� she says, SA国际影视传媒渁mong both non-indigenous residents as well as the vast number of visitors from around the globe.SA国际影视传媒�
