Organizers want day of healing nationally recognized

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The National Day of Healing and Reconciliation (NDHR) was celebrated with events in Edmonton, as well as many other parts of the province on May 26.

NDHR is not recognized nationally officially, but organizers of the campaign at the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute hope to collect signed petitions at each event to take to Ottawa in hopes it will be proclaimed a nationally celebrated day.

"Right now the government is not recognizing it as a national day yet. But it's going to happen," said Maggie Mercredi, one of the NDHR organizers.

"It's important because there are a lot of things that have happened to different groups, not just Aboriginal people, but Japanese-Canadians, Chinese-Canadians, Ukrainians and the Jewish community, and healing is not just an Aboriginal issue; it's a Canadian issue."

Events in Edmonton included a celebration at city hall on May 25 to announce that Edmonton city council had proclaimed May 26 the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation for this year. Speakers included Lewis Cardinal, councillor Allan Bolstad and the lieutenant-governor of Alberta, Lois Hole. There was also a picnic on May 26 at Sir William Hawrelak Park in recognition of the day.

"We have many diverse communities with many differences, culturally and worldview-wise, so we need to be able to understand each other. And that's why this event, or this day, the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation, I think is going to become a very important part of Edmonton in the future," said Lewis Cardinal. Cardinal is chair of the Edmonton Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee and the director of the Office of Native Student Services at the University of Alberta.

"We cannot move forward as a united people until everyone of us has the security that others take for granted," said Hole to a crowd gathered inside city hall. "I believe we have the intellectual and moral capacity to accomplish this goal. The only question that remains is whether or not we have the will."

The town of Hinton also held celebrations that had Maggie Hodgson, one of the founders of NDHR, speak at the two-day conference held there. People were invited to come and listen to Elders, as well as other guests, talk and share some of their stories.

"(Maggie Hodgson) did the opening address yesterday. She's the one that really got this day going," said Betty Osmond, director of community services for the Town of Hinton. "We certainly support it and think it's important here. These problems aren't just in Hinton, or in this region or this province. They're right across the country. If you don't have a good foundation, it's hard to build a good future."