With events including a powwow and a commemorative walk, people on the prairies honoured survivors of residential ‘schools’ — and all those who never made it home Daniella Peltier with an Every Child Matters flag at the Southern Chiefs’ Organization’s Orange Shirt Day powwow at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on September 30. Photo by Crystal Greene Indigenous communities across “Canada” marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — also known as Orange Shirt Day — with various gatherings and events on Sept. 30. On the prairies, IndigiNews reporters Crystal Greene and Brittany Boschman attended gatherings in or near their own communities. Both reporters photographed the day’s events, capturing the spirit of each and honouring their own connections to the story. In Winnipeg, Crystal attended a commemorative walk and powwow that was hosted by the Southern Chiefs’ Organization at Canada Life Centre. In Saskatchewan in the Qu’Appelle Valley, Brittany was present for a community gathering and walk hosted by the Star Blanket Cree Nation. You can find a selection of their photos below. Women who survived residential “schools” took part in a powwow dance special, honouring survivors in Winnipeg on Orange Shirt Day. Photos by Crystal Greene Male survivors of residential “schools” were also honoured during a dance special at the Winnipeg Orange Shirt Day powwow. Photo by Crystal Greene There was a sea of orange, interspersed with powwow dancers, during the intertribal dances of the Orange Shirt Day powwow in Winnipeg. Photo by Crystal Greene In Lebret, SK, two people stand outside the White Calf Gymnasium, waiting for the walk to begin. The mural was painted by Darren Pratt in 2022. Photo by Brittany Boschman In Lebret, SK, an eagle with outstretched wings hovers above while people walk. Created by Darren Pratt, the mural on the White Calf Gymnasium depicts an eagle stretching across the building, with figures holding hands beneath it and tipis surrounding the landscape. Photo by Brittany Boschman People wearing orange shirts walk through the Wa-Pii Moos-Toosis White Calf Gymnasium, one of the last remaining structures of the former Lebret Indian Residential School. Photo by Brittany Boschman Three young participants walk along the path toward the former gate of the residential school. The Smudge Walk began at the gymnasium, continued through the community and returned to the former school grounds. Photo by Brittany Boschman We live in a media ecosystem that thrives on misinformation. Big Tech and AI companies are consuming the work of real human beings and Canadian news has been banned on Facebook and Instagram. And yet, I have hope for journalism because of the work we’re doing at IndigiNews. 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In photos: Nations mark Orange Shirt Day in Manitoba, Saskatchewan
