Indigenous families in New Brunswick gather to celebrate resilience, culture, and pride on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Celebrating Heritage Along the Wolastoq
Fredericton and Moncton — Indigenous families, elders, children, and allies gathered across New Brunswick on Tuesday to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with drumming, dancing, and cultural displays. The events offered a platform for reflection, remembrance, and celebration of Indigenous resilience.
A Teen’s Journey Back to Her Roots
Azalliz Moulton, a Wolastoqi teenager from Fredericton, shared her personal journey of reconnecting with her heritage after growing up off reserve. As emcee of the Wabanaki gathering at St. Mary’s old reserve, Moulton emphasized pride in identity and cultural safety.
“I want them to see it’s OK to be who we are now — like we are safe now. We don’t have to hide,” she said.
Moulton also works with Under One Sky’s Aboriginal Head Start program, supporting Indigenous children aged two to five, teaching songs and cultural practices such as smudging.
Honoring the Past, Acknowledging Pain
The gatherings were not only celebratory but also solemn. Katie Lunney of Gignoo Transition House reflected on the difficult history of residential schools, where Indigenous children faced cultural erasure, physical abuse, and trauma.
“We’re thinking about all those children who didn’t come home and we also think about those who did come home forever changed,” Lunney said. Yet she found hope in the colorful display of orange shirts, ribbon skirts, and regalia, which celebrated Indigenous resilience.
Communities Unite Across Cities
In Moncton, Carol Scott described the event along the Petitcodiac River as “a sea of orange.” She highlighted the importance of allyship, acknowledging her own settler ancestry and the need to learn from Indigenous communities.
Jill Van Horne, attending with her young children, said the event reinforced lessons of respect for Indigenous traditions. “We are so fortunate to live on unceded lands and share them with the original owners,” she said, describing one dance as moving her to tears.
Cultural Pride Through Dance and Song
Ramona Milliea, originally from Treaty One lands in Manitoba and now residing in New Brunswick, participated in a jingle dress dance. With family members who endured residential and day schools, Milliea said public celebration of Indigenous culture brings profound pride.
“To be able to practice our culture, and to be able to hear our songs and to be able to do our dances out in public, really does make the heart — it fills your heart,” she said.
Building Awareness and Unity
Across both Fredericton and Moncton, the events underscored a message of cultural pride, resilience, and reconciliation. From youth to elders and allies, attendees embraced both reflection on historical injustices and celebration of living traditions, ensuring the next generation carries forward knowledge, pride, and respect for Indigenous heritage.
