ST. PAUL – The Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre Society (MNFCS) will be holding a three-day commemoration for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, from Sept. 28 to 30.
On Sept. 28, the MNFCS will host a pipe ceremony at 9 a.m., which includes a prayer for all events related to Orange Shirt Day. Following is a traditional feast and lunch for the community. In addition, St. Paul Reconciliation will also host a community sharing circle at the friendship centre’s gymmasium.
On Sept. 29, a sweat lodge, which is a form of a “healing space,” according to Hinano Rosa, executive director at the friendship centre, will also occur, followed by a feast. The topic for the sweat lodge will include talking about the history of residential schools.
On Sept. 30, in partnership with TD Canada and the Town of St. Paul, the friendship centre will help unveil a crosswalk to honour those who attended residential schools.
The theme around the three-day observance is “ReconcilAction,” according to Rosa, explaining it is important to tell the history of Indigenous people - including residential schools - to all Canadians.
Rosa acknowledged the topic of residential schools is a tough one. “It’s a hard talk, but that’s what we need to have. We need to have hard discussions and not just walk around with orange shirts to fit in, right?”
As part of the observation of Orange Shirt Day, Rosa said this also involves increasing awareness of the 11 Treaties made between the Government of Canada, Indigenous groups, and provinces and territories signed between 1871 and 1921.
Rosa also said a path to reconciliation requires proactive action and not just a one-day observation, explaining the friendship centre is working on several initiatives such as the Oct. 4 conference around missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, transgender, gender-diverse, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+).
The conference will be held at the St. Paul Recreation Centre and will begin at 9 a.m. There will be enough seating and food for around 150 people, and registrations are open until Oct. 3. Then beginning at 4 p.m., a walk will take place, escorted by the local RCMP detachment.
Transitional housing
During discussions with Lakeland This Week, another upcoming evening planned by the friendship centre includes an open house on Oct. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. The open house will focus on a transitional housing project that is in the works, and members of the public are encouraged to attend.
Rosa said the transitional housing project, also known as a supportive living facility, is for people coming out of mental health programs for example and will help them move into independence.
All programs offered through the project will happen at the friendship centre, and the transitional housing building itself will be where participants eat and sleep. Programs will involve providing employment skills, group sessions, counseling, and teaching basic life skills.
“We’re not reinventing the wheel, and we will be working with other agencies,” said Rosa.
The transitional housing building will house up to 12 individuals.
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