TRC brings truth-sharing events to Island communities

A request from elderly residential school survivors who cannot travel to the national truth-telling event scheduled for mainland BC in September 2013 has prompted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to take the truth gathering process to Vancouver Island.

“This particular event is being held … because there is a special geographical focus here that … the people on the Island themselves have raised with us. A lot of elderly survivors on the Island can’t get to the event on the mainland. So what we said [was], ‘We’ll come to you,” said TRC Chair Murray Sinclair.

A regional event will take place in Victoria on April 13 and 14 and will enable the more than 2,000 survivors from Vancouver Island and adjacent islands the opportunity to tell their stories. Other activities will include traditional ceremonies, survivor gatherings, an education day, witnessing survivor statements, cultural performances, and films. No other regional events have been approved, although proposals have been received for more.

“At the same time, we also want to engage the Canadian public that live on the Island, to also participate with them, to give them the opportunity to be there,” said Sinclair.

The TRC has been mandated to hold seven national events and an unspecified number of community events, with individual statement taking/truth sharing opportunities.

The regional event, while similar to a national event, is limited in scope with efforts concentrated on the geographical area of the island. The regional event will operate with a smaller budget than a national event and will also have a shorter time frame.

In the two months leading up to the regional event, four hearings will be held on Vancouver Island. Port Hardy will host a gathering Feb. 27 and Feb. 28, Campbell River on March 1 and March 2, Port Alberni on March 12 and 13, and Cowichan (Duncan) on March 15 and 16.

The next national event will take place in Saskatoon from June 21 to June 24, 2012. It will be the fourth national event, with previous events held in Winnipeg, Inuvik and Halifax. There has not yet been a date set for the 2013 national event in BC.