Statement from TBPSB Chair Karen Machado the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
THUNDER BAY, Sept. 30, 2024 – On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we remember and honour the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children who were taken from their families and communities and forced to attend residential schools.
Every child matters, which is why today, we remember the children who survived the horrors of these institutions, the children who never returned home, and those still missing. We must continue to acknowledge the truth of what happened to them.
Residential schools had a profound impact, leading to negative health, cultural loss, and the brutal legacy of intergenerational trauma. They destroyed lives, identities, families and communities and continue to impact First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across the country.
As an Indigenous woman and mother, I have seen this first-hand. Recognizing the trauma inflicted by these historical injustices is crucial for building empathy and understanding.
On behalf of the Thunder Bay Police Service Board, I would like to acknowledge and honour the survivors of residential schools and their families from Indigenous communities across the Thunder Bay area. We will never forget.
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