'A day to uncover': Boyle Street reconciliation day activities promote understanding and healing
Dozens gathered at the Boyle Street Community Plaza Friday to commemorate and pay respect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The event began with a pipe ceremony, art making, "courageous" conversations, and teachings to help honour Indigenous Peoples and facilitate healing.
Rev. Travis Enright, one of the event organizers, told CTV News Edmonton that the day for reconciliation is an opportunity for action.
"We've decided that it's not a day of rest necessarily, a day to take off," Enright said. "It's actually a day to uncover, dig in, to reignite and maybe find passion in truth and reconciliation and to acknowledge that we are all part of a treasured history."
"There's a lot to unpack in this day," he added. "It's about walking with each other."
In the evening, Boyle Street will host a feast and round dance. For Enright, it's all about reclaiming Indigenous culture and helping empower people to work together toward finding solutions.
"We say we are treaty people, but that means we have to start acting that way and that means building knowledge and building wisdom and pathways forward for each of us to be together," Enright said.
"It's not about trying to turn the page but how do we figure out ways to be deeper together," he added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.