This Saturday, Sept. 30, is The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and some events are taking place in North Hastings to mark the occasion.
The day is to honour Indigenous survivors, and those who never returned home, from residential schools. People are encouraged to wear orange on the day to promote the “Every Child Matters” concept.
Ahead of the day, North Hastings High’s School’s Wolf Pack student group is hosting a screening of the film Bones of Crows. It’s at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 at the 14 Monck St. school.
For admission, the Wolf Pack is accepting donations to the Indian Residential School Survivor Society. The sale of popcorn and drinks will help the Wolf Pack fund future events.
Also, the Algonquin Inodewiziwin Cultural Circle is hosting an Orange Shirt Day Celebration” on Saturday. It’s at the centre, located at the intersections of Highways 62 and 127 in Maynooth. It starts with a cleansing smudge outside at 10 a.m.
The event runs to 12 noon and will include a moment of silence, crafts and songs by the Shawashkong Ikwe Singers.
The Art Gallery of Bancroft will host a ceremony at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The event will also feature the Shawashkong Ikwe Singers. The ceremony will close out the Gallery’s September exhibit, which was called Truth and featured the work of Indigenous artists.
In October, the Gallery will start a show featuring non-Indigenous artists, whose works explore the topic of “Reconciliation.”