An upcoming Truth & Reconciliation event planned for Chase is all about collaboration and community.
At the Aug. 12 council meeting, Adams Lake Indian Band (ALIB) member and family support worker Lisa Kenoras appeared as a delegation to outline the event and encourage participation from both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
"This is a significant event in honour of the 215 children found at the Kamloops Residential School, all survivors and the families impacted by residential school," she said. 鈥淭his gathering marks one of the first times our Secw茅pemc community are hosting a Truth & Reconciliation Day in active collaboration with our surrounding communities. We believe this is a day of opportunity for all of us to walk together in remembrance, reflection and unity.鈥�
The Secw茅pemc led event, hosted by the ALIB in partnership with the Riverstone Family Resource Centre, will take place on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Wilson Park, with Neskonlith and Skwl膩x possible co-hosts pending confirmation.
The event will begin at the ALIB with a Memorial Walk across the Pine Street bridge to end at Wilson Park, where there will be opening remarks and a prayer from an elder.
Kenoras is also working with the chief and local school district to get youth involved to maybe do some drumming or singing, adding 鈥渋t鈥檚 really important to have the youth and the children in this event.鈥�
Following that will be a barbecue from 12 to 1 p.m., and she鈥檚 looking at getting some bouncy castles, face painting and different family activities and encouraging volunteers and vendors to participate
Kenoras鈥� goal is to 鈥渂uild alliance and to be able to create a safe community for our youth so people can start working together through that respect and that unity.鈥�
鈥淪o I stand here today to ask how we can collaborate, and how we can work together.鈥�
She added that anyone wanting to help or collaborate is welcome to do so, with organizers wanting to have people confirm their participation by Sept. 1. Contact information can be found on the ALIB website at .
