In Yellowknife, locals gathered for drumming, art, and beaded orange shirts to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Honouring the Day Through Community and Art
Dozens of people gathered Tuesday at the Native Women’s Association of the Northwest Territories office to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Attendees shared a meal of stew and bannock, participated in painting, and crafted beaded orange shirt pins, designed by organizer Tina Wrigley. The event began and ended with drumming.
A Personal Vision for Youth and Healing
Wrigley, a victim services worker, said she organized the event with young people in mind. Her goal was to show the next generation a way to carry “our pain in a beautiful way.”
“As I was standing there listening to the drummers, I was holding [the hand of] one of the workers’ daughters,” Wrigley said. “It really, really dawned on me, that’s who I want to change the story for. We’re still here. It makes us who we are today as Indigenous people, and wearing this orange shirt, I’m taking back my power. You see everybody walking through and eating the stew? I want them leaving light, happy, joy.”
Reflecting on the Legacy of Residential Schools
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation provides Canadians with the opportunity to reflect on the multi-generational legacy of residential schools, honouring survivors, their families, and communities. Events like the Yellowknife gathering combine remembrance with cultural expression.
Creativity as a Form of Storytelling
After finishing her meal, participant Maxine Lacorne began working on her beaded orange shirt pin, saying she hopes to complete it by Sept. 30 next year.
“I think it’s a very good, creative way of expressing our stories,” Lacorne said. “Beading and sewing… that’s what our people have always been doing for many, many years.”
Community Connection Through Cultural Expression
From shared meals to hands-on arts, the Yellowknife event emphasized the power of community to foster healing and pride in Indigenous identity. Wrigley said events like this help people reclaim their narratives and celebrate their culture in a joyful, meaningful way.
